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National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Nuhu Ribadu, has noted that national security has beyond arms and ammunition, rather it is about human security.
Ribadu stated this at the second edition of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), a strategic meeting with stakeholders on the Executive Order for Critical national information infrastructure, held in Abuja.
The meeting was also attended by state Commissioners including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as permanent Secretaries and Heads of ICT agencies.
The Stakeholders meeting organised by ATCON on Friday in Abuja is themed: Rallying Critical Stakeholders to Drive the Successful Execution of the Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure”.
Speaking through, the Deputy Director Strategy, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Commandant Onibito Ezekiel, Nuhu Ribadu said, national security is about security of humans, because it has gone beyond arms and ammunition.
“The reality shows that security has gone beyond arms and ammunition. Security is about human security,” he said.
The NSA also noted that the company of all major stakeholders; including security agencies, operators and governments will ensure the protection of national information infrastructure
“The global destiny of Nigeria will be shared by this association and every other player within the industry”, Ribadu stated.
He also emphasised the need to protect the data of Nigerians.
“With over 200 million citizens generating vast amounts of data from ATCON facilities, protection of these data is non-negotiable.
“In this Artificial Intelligence era, raw data fuels innovation. We must safeguard both public and private data with robust policies, transcending profit motives for national interest.
“We would therefore, need to develop the appropriate strategies and policies to guide data usage and guard our data in all its states, that is at rest, in transit or in motion,” he stated.
“The telecom sector is the strategic enabler of Nigeria’s future. Let us rise above narrowed preference on interests to build an inclusive, affordable, and secure digital economy,” Ribadu added.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, who was represented by Brig. Gen. Mohammed Lemu, said, “recall recently, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) classified telecommunication infrastructure as CNII. This is vital to meet globalisation trends, Nigeria national security, economic competition and public safety.
He said the effective protection of these infrastructure is paramount to ensure seamless communication, data integrity, operational continuity across all sectors and communication as key enablers of Command and Control in defence.
In the sad vein, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall, Hassan Abubakar, who spoke through, Air Vice Marshall, Felix Uwakara pledged the Air Fiorce’s continued ccollaboration with stakeholders.
“Let me reaffirm the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to enhance the resilience of our critical digital infrastructure”, he noted.
The President of ATCON, Mr. Tony Emoekpere in his welcome address said, “The Executive Order signed in 2024 has designated certain systems, facilities, and networks across our economy as critical”.
“Our task here today is not to debate whether this policy is needed. It is to discuss how to make it work in practice. How to protect the assets it covers and how to prevent, or at least minimise, the effects of any damage or disruption to them.”
The Executive Vice Chairman EVC of the National Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida in his remaks, said, “As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, we stand at a crossroads of unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges.
“In a world increasingly defined by data and digital systems, our infrastructure is no longer just physical it is virtual, interconnected, and crucial to every sector of society.“
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