Cyber criminals threaten economy, security: Nigerian official

The activities of hackers and cyber criminals was a threat to Nigeria's economy and security of citizens and vital infrastructure connected to the Internet, a top official has said.

National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno said the situation was partly due to the lack of awareness on cyber security and poor enforcement of guidelines and minimum standards for security of government websites.

Monguno stated this at the inauguration of a 31-member Cyber-crime Advisory Council, a policy formulator in Abuja, the nation's capital city on Monday.

He said the need to take serious action to protect the country's cyberspace has become a national security requirement.

According to him, the importance of serious action to protect national cyberspace has increased tremendously with growth in number of Nigerians connected to the Internet.

He said the 2014 annual report of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation showed a 183 percent increase on e-payment platform in the banking sector.

"This situation is a serious challenge to our resolve to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that the Internet brings," he added.

He pointed out that effective management of risk associated with cyber-crime required collaboration between government, the private sector and civil society organisations.

The security chief said the government had deployed ways of fighting cyber-crime by reviewing the Evidence Act so that electronic evidence could be accepted in court.

He said the country became the fifth country in Africa and the first in West Africa to enact the cyber-crime law. Endit