Economy needs information technology -- Ndukwe

Former Executive Vice-Chairman,
Nigerian Communications Commission,
Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, has urged the
Federal Government and the National
Assembly to enact laws to protect
Information and Communications
Technology and power facilities as
critical national infrastructure.
Ndukwe, who made the call at Internet
Governance Forum in Abuja, said the
enactment of a law on critical national
infrastructure would provide a
framework for curtailing the growing
vandalism of ICT, transport and
electricity facilities across the country.
According to him, ICT including
broadband constitutes essential
infrastructure of today's digital
economy as the networks make it
possible for African nations to
participate actively in the world
economy.
He added that increased dependency
on ICT infrastructure by other sectors
could lead to increased vulnerability of
the economy as a whole, thus the
need to protect the infrastructure from
being attacked physically or in the
cyberspace.
He said, "No modern economy can be
sustained today without adequate and
pervasive ICT infrastructure. ICT
pervades heavily into all areas of
society, industry and government. It
acts as a vital cross-sector dependency
linkage between critical infrastructures.
"In fact, infrastructures such as
telecommunications, energy and
transportation are becoming
increasingly dependent on each other
through the increased use of ICT.
"Therefore, the consequences of
disturbances of underlying ICT
networks may result in disastrous
cascading effects on other sectors of
the economy. Every modern nation
depends on the reliable functioning of
its critical infrastructure, especially its
ICT networks and systems."
Ndukwe added, "The adoption and
usage of Internet and broadband by
everyone are essential prerequisites of
the digital economy of the 21st
century. However, all over the world,
cyber threats continue to grow and
constitute major national security
vulnerability points.
"It must be the intention of every
government in the digital age to
maintain a cyber-environment that
encourages economic prosperity while
promoting business efficiency,
innovation, safety, security and
confidentiality. It is therefore essential
that government urgently enacts
comprehensive cyber security laws to
address the liability and criminal risks
that may originate from inappropriate
use of Internet infrastructure.
"In addressing vulnerability, there will
also be a need for international
coordination, exchange of intelligence,
training and manpower development of
subject matter experts, ensuring that
operators of critical infrastructure
protect their systems from harm."
Minister of Communications
Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson,
said the addition of nine million
subscribers every year to the
population of Internet users in the
country could be interpreted as growth
and opportunity or potential threat
depending on the perspective.
She said, "We have made gains in
reducing the digital divide and are
increasing digital inclusion and
integration. Initiatives such as the
Rural Broadband Initiative have seen
an extension of broadband
infrastructure in rural areas.
"Creativity is being applied to achieve
legal and illegal outcomes. Surveillance
is taken as necessary in a world of
increasing instability and terrorism."
She added that more understanding of
the dynamism between the youth and
technology as well as the untapped
opportunities was required.
Source: punch