Senate Committee Chair Advocates Urgent Amendments to Strengthen Cybersecurity Legislation
In a recent speech, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, expressed gratitude to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for championing the review of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The proposed amendments aim to address critical gaps, aligning the nation with effective implementation of the National Cybersecurity Programme.
Senator Umar highlighted the pressing issue of inadequate funds hindering cybersecurity efforts, emphasizing its adverse impact on national security. He urged prioritizing cybersecurity funding as urgently as the declared national food security emergency.
The proposed legislative intervention seeks sustainable funding mechanisms to empower the nation in assessing, updating, and advancing critical economic infrastructure security.
Senator Umar stressed the need to address the disruptive impact of current and emerging cyber threats, underscoring the importance of aligning legislative amendments with national security objectives.
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The Senator called for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s cyber threat response, emphasizing the need for conscious national funding aligned with international treaties.
He cited the recent African Summit on Cybersecurity, where nations committed to creating dedicated authorities and structures, highlighting the importance of adequate funding for effective cybersecurity.
The speech emphasized the urgency of redefining the Cybercrime Act 2015 to bolster cybersecurity capabilities, focusing on domestic cybersecurity, counter-extremism measures, cyber-intelligence, and research and development in an evolving AI-powered cyber landscape.
Senator Umar urged a reexamination of the current approach to enforcing national cybersecurity directives, citing gaps in the interpretation and application of existing provisions.
He called for stakeholders’ input to address the dynamic nature of well-funded national cybersecurity.
In conclusion, Senator Umar expressed hope that the public hearing’s outcome would align with collective objectives, thanking stakeholders for their contributions.
The Senate Committee reassured that all submitted memorandums would be duly considered in the nation’s best interest.
