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Danbatta urges investment in internet infrastructure for job creation

By Ugo Onwuaso
08 December 2017   |   4:12 am
Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has suggested massive investment in internet infrastructures...

Umar Danbatta, NCC Boss.

Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has suggested massive investment in internet infrastructures, particularly broadband, to enable job creation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

This can be achieved through sustainable policies, collaborative efforts and education (PCE).

Prof. Danbatta, at the just concluded African Regional Internet Registry “AFRINIC-27” meeting hosted by Nigeria, also warned that that as the internet evolves, so also does cybercrime.

“This remains an immense challenge for internet development in Africa and the entire world, crucial collaboration within sub-regional and regional needed and this is the key in preventing and mitigating cyber attracts.

“Nationally, NCC is partnering with relevant agencies to provide proactive measures in mitigating cybercrime. The Commission is setting up a Sectorial Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) center that will collaborate with the ngCERT (domicile in the office of the NSA), in tackling issues that relate to the telecommunications industry in the fight against cybercrime.

“On the international level, Nigeria through NCC, is partnering with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to set up Africa Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC) in Abuja. The center will be used for Africa Regional Cybersecurity information sharing (cyber-attacks, threats, malwaresand viruses etc) and also to train countries within the Africa sub-region on Cybersecurity related issues”.

To support emerging technologies, he said that, collectively, Africa needs to create an enabling environment for IPv6 deployment.

“We need to engage more in the area of Internet Governance and other similar initiatives from national to sub-regional to regional and global to contribute and share best practices that can help to grow the internet.

“I acknowledge the effort of internet society and the stakeholders in helping the development of internet in the African region.

“It is acknowledged that taking Internet to the next level, requires collaboration, education and sensitization. The NCC is therefore committed to supporting the African Internet industry as much as possible with provision of good regulatory policies in Nigeria, which will ensure availability, affordability and accessibility to high speed internet that would drive emerging technologies and deployment of more services”.

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