Federal Government commissions Computer Emergency Response Centre

Nigeria has commissioned an Integrated Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Centre (CERRC) to enhance national cybersecurity and boost the fight against cybercrimes in line with the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali  Pantami, who commissioned the digital complex at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja, stated that with the aid of the CERRC, cybercrimes would be reduced to its barest minimum by monitoring and securing the country’s cyberspace.

“The Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Centre is in alignment with the key priority area of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari administration aimed at enhancing the security of the Nation”

“Today there are many challenges with regards to security based on what is happening online. With CERRC teams we will be able to be the watchdog of the federal government, monitor potential cybercriminals attacks on our country, come up with policies and strategies to prevent our country from the attacks or at least reduce it to the barest minimum,” he explained.

Director-General of NITDA, Dr Abdullahi Inuwa, while emphasizing the importance of the centre to security, noted that digitalization of the country’s economy and the rebranding of the agency.

According to Abdullahi, “There were several unsuccessful attempts to review the IT policy before. But coming to the office within three months, the Minister had come up with a new policy, the National Digital Economy policy for Digital Nigeria. The policy expanded NITDA’s mandate and made it compulsory to rebrand in line with the new policy.

The new Digital Centre, which houses the CERRC to enhance national cybersecurity, a Digital Multimedia Studio for online digital skills and literacy capacity building and also Digital Conference Room for remote collaboration.