Cyber-attack: Weeks after JAMB portal was hit, Shittu urges banks to be on the alert

Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications, has urged banks to employ experts in cyber defence to safeguard their systems from attacks.

This is coming few weeks after the portal of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) came under siege by internet fraudsters.

The minister called on stakeholders in the private sector to support the federal government in tackling all forms of cyber-attacks.

Shittu told NAN in Abuja on Friday that all parties need to join in the fight against cyber crime as “it is not the sole responsibility of government to prepare for such attacks”.

He said collaboration is key to combating any attack in the Nigerian cyberspace.

He, however, noted that the attack on JAMB portal “was an indication that the Nigeria government was at alert and equipped to forestall such attacks”.

“It is a thing of joy that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under this ministry rose to the occasion during the JAMB attack,” he said.

“Such attacks will come against banks and other financial institutions, airlines, hospitals and what have you. It behooves on all agencies, companies, establishments to prepare ahead.

“The banking sector for instance, must also take precautions by employing experts in cyber Defence to protect their data.’’

He said that ICT was a private sector-driven industry and as such, “government’s constitutional role was to create enabling environment where businesses could flourish.”

“Part of the intervention of the federal government is the fact that a Cyber Security Act has been passed by the national assembly and the office of the national security adviser is championing the fight against cyber crimes,” he added.

“These are initiatives that we have on ground to assure you that the Nigerian government has not been sleeping in regard to possible cyber criminality in Nigeria.’’