The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills, on Wednesday said the U.S. government was committed in partnering with Nigeria to build cybersecurity resilience to save the economy from cyber criminals.
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Mills said this at the maiden edition of the National Cybersecurity Conference (NCSC) held in Abuja.
The ambassador said that cyber threats were evolving and transcending borders, hence they required nations cross border collaboration to tackle.
“As we embrace the opportunities in the digital age, we also have to confront its vulnerabilities.
“Insecure cyberspace poses broad and far reaching consequences: security, economic and social challenges, that demand our urgent attention.
“Cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, criminal networks, malicious actors and even state sponsored entities are exploiting vulnerabilities to disrupt critical infrastructure, steal sensitive information and undermine the national security.
“These threats transcend borders and making international collaboration essential to counter them effectively,” Mills said.
According to him, economically, the stakes are immense with cyber attacks costing the global economy billions of dollars annually.
He said it was stifling growth and innovation for Nigeria, a nation he described as having a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and rapidly expanding digital economy.
“Protecting cyberspace is not just a matter of security; it’s a prerequisite for sustained economic prosperity.
“Insecure systems erode trust in institutions, compromise individual privacy and exacerbate inequalities.
“Addressing these challenges requires a whole-of-government approach and beyond. Governments must work hand-in-hand with the private sector, civil society and with international partners to build resilient systems,” he said.
Mills reiterated that the U.S. was committed to working with Nigeria to strengthen its cybersecurity and promote Nigeria’s digital future.
The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, said that the digital space was evolving rapidly, hence need for laws, institutions and frameworks to evolve alongside.
“Cyber threats are no longer speculative they are real, dynamic and increasingly sophisticated.
“We must, therefore, continue to foster a collaborative and multi stakeholder approach involving government, industry, the academia and civil society.
“Together, we can build a secure digital environment that promotes innovation, protect national assets and safeguard the rights and privacy of all Nigerians,” Adedeji said.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said it had been projected that financial losses from cyber attacks by 2026 would be up to 20 trillion dollars.
He urged the private sector to support government efforts, adding that issues of human capital development, infrastructure for digital economy growth should be addressed as well.
The conference had as its theme: “Building a Resilient Digital Future.”
It was organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency in collaboration with Office of the National Security Adviser.
(NAN)
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