By correspondent in Lagos.
Prof., Prof.Umar Garba Danbatta. EVC, NCC.
The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) says it has collaborated with Mobile Network Operators to ensure the safety of their networks and conducts regular audits and assessments to verify compliance and encourage a culture of cybersecurity within the industry.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Prof.Umar Garba Danbatta, disclosed this in his keynote address at the second Quarter Open Forum of the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) at the weekend.
The forum has as its topic, "Combating e-fraud on telecom platforms and building consumer confidence in the digital economy."
The NCC boss described the topic as of paramount importance in the effort to check fraudulent activities in the country.
He said: "As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we must address the growing concern of fraudulent activities in the digital realm and take proactive measures to safeguard the trust and confidence of consumers.
"Digital technology offers Nigeria the opportunity to grow and diversify its economy from the overdependence on agriculture or oil and gas export proceeds.
According to him, the launch of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020 – 2030 (NDEPS) attests to the fact that Nigeria is poised to join the comity of nations and become a global leader in transforming its economy into a digital one.
Danbatta expressed delight that in recent years, Nigeria had witnessed remarkable growth in the digital economy, revolutionizing the way its people communicate, transact, and conduct business.
"The telecom sector plays a pivotal role in enabling this digital transformation, providing the infrastructure and connectivity that fuel our interconnected world. However, with these advancements come new challenges, one of which is the rising tide of e-fraud and cybersecurity concerns," he explained.
The NCC boss described E-fraud as encompassing a wide range of malicious activities carried out via electronic means.
This, he added, includes; identity theft, phishing, hacking, and unauthorized access to personal and financial information, to defraud or take advantage of victims.
He expressed concern that criminal activities might not only cause significant financial losses but also erode consumer trust in the digital ecosystem.
According to Danbatta, NCC as the regulator of the communications sector has a crucial role to play in combatting e-fraud and stressed that "we must establish comprehensive legal frameworks and standards that mandate sound security practices for telecom operators."
"The legal framework must focus on data protection, privacy, and incident response, ensuring that operators are held accountable for any lapses in security on their respective networks.
"The NCC also type-approves communications equipment to ensure that they conform to global standards and are interoperable with various relevant technologies.
"In this regard, The Commission collaborates with Mobile Network Operators to ensure the safety of their networks and conducts regular audits and assessments to verify compliance and encourage a culture of cybersecurity within the industry," he explained.
Danbatta said by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, telecom operators have a responsibility to ensure the security and integrity of their networks and to prevent it from being used in, or about, the commission of any offense under any law in operation in Nigeria.
He said with the increasing uptake of digital financial services and the advent of disruptive technologies, the issue of cybersecurity had become increasingly important.
Danbatta, therefore, called on Telecom operators to invest in robust infrastructure, employ state-of-the-art security measures, and conduct regular audits to identify vulnerabilities and address them promptly.
"Additionally, operators should implement stringent authentication protocols, two-factor authentication, and encryption mechanisms to safeguard customer data and prevent unauthorized access.
"There is also the concern about how personal data is collected, stored, shared, and exploited.
" Fortunately, NDEPS 2020-2030 adequately addresses the protection of telecom consumers against the threats of cybercrime, encouraging them to embrace digital finance and supporting them to contribute to the Digital Economy.
"Pillar #6 of the NDEPS, which deals with soft infrastructure, has proven to be proactive.
"The soft infrastructure pillar focuses on strengthening public confidence in the use of digital technologies and participation in the Digital Economy", according to him," he observed.
The NCC EVC/CEO said the pillar would address the importance of cybersecurity and other standards, frameworks, and guidelines that encouraged citizens to embrace the digital culture, adding data privacy and the deployment of technologies like the public key infrastructure are addressed in this pillar.
Danbatta, who recalled that recently, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 was signed into law,to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the regulation of how personal information is processed, among other things, added that the NCC was also in the process of developing more elaborate Data Protection Regulations.
He assured that when operational, it would ensure the protection and privacy of data in the Nigerian communications sector.
" It is important to mention that, the Commission has issued the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007 which among other things, provides for the protection of consumer information," he disclosed.
The NCC called on Law Enforcement Agencies to collaborate, closely, with telecom operators and regulatory bodies to investigate and prosecute e-fraud perpetrators.
He expressed optimism that enhanced coordination, information sharing, and dedicated cybercrime units could go a long way in deterring criminals and bringing them to justice.
Danbatta also identified strengthening international cooperation in combating cross-border e-fraud, pointing out that cybercriminals often exploit jurisdictional limitations.
He expressed the commitment of NCC to fulfill its mandate, adding the Commission" is passionate about driving Digital Economy in Nigeria, adding it has continued to implement initiatives to Protect, Inform and Educate telecom consumers in this regard.
"Through its Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), the Commission undertakes constant Consumer Education with a significant part of this effort dedicated to providing information that equips Consumers to thrive in a world that has embraced digital finance.
"Information dissemination materials on how to safeguard themselves while using telecom platforms to access digital financial products are available on the NCC consumer portal whilst hardcopies are distributed at consumer outreach events," Danbatta said.
According to him, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) periodically notifies telecom consumers of the latest cybersecurity threats and how to avoid falling victim to them to further protect them.
He said NCC-CSIRT, in collaboration with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) at the office of the National Security Adviser, had been at the forefront of protecting telecom consumers from cyber threats.
Other measures he said, are "the provision of timely advisories to protect consumers from being unfairly targeted by cyber-attacks, which goes a long way in ensuring that they can access digital services without suffering unwarranted losses".
He said that NCC strongly believes that by fostering a culture of vigilance and knowledge, we can collectively reduce the success rate of e-fraud attempts.
Danbatta reminded the forum that combatting e-fraud on telecom platforms and building consumer confidence in the digital economy requires a collective effort, adding that telecom operators, regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and consumers must collaborate, each fulfilling their respective functions.
He called for building consumer awareness and promoting digital literacy which according to him remained crucial to empowering individuals to protect themselves.
"Telecom operators should educate their customers about potential risks, guide secure online practices, and offer user-friendly tools to monitor and manage their accounts.
"Regular communication with customers, promptly addressing their concerns, and providing timely updates on security issues are vital in establishing trust.
"To build consumer confidence in the Digital Economy, we must emphasize transparency and accountability.
"Telecom operators should be transparent about their security measures, privacy policies, and incident response mechanisms. Collaboration with third-party security firms and independent audits can also help validate the integrity of telecom platforms," he further urged.
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