The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has said the achievement of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy is largely dependent on her ability to secure its cyberspace.

Abdullahi stated this at a webinar organised by the agency in collaboration with Spire Solutioons on Cyber Hygiene During and After COVID-19, especially with the increased rate of cyber criminals’ use of COVID-19 as an opportunity to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

Kashifu who was represented by Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solution, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, said the quest for survival during the pandemic, has forced people and entities to adapt new possibilities especially internet for their daily activities, hence their exposure.

The DG further explained that data collected by Google reflected a spike in phishing emails from the commencement of the lockdown adding that in January, Google recorded approximately 149,000 phishing websites, which had increased to 552,000 recently, an increase of about 350% since January.

He said: “The boom in the use of virtual platforms and increase in online activities by individuals, government and businesses led to an exponential increase in cybercrime incidences.

“To survive the antics of cyber criminals during and post COVID-19 pandemic, there is need for strategy. We need to strategize. One of these strategies is to acquire knowledge on how to stay safe in the cyberspace.”

Kashifu assured that his agency will be engaging security experts from both private and public institutions to rob minds on effective ways of securing Nigeria cyberspace.

He therefore reiterated that NITDA, as an agency of Government with the responsibility of ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace, will live up to its mandate by providing Nigerians with advisory notes on these incidences.