Ndukwe says lack of awareness, bane of ICT infrastructure vulnerability

   

Ndukwe, chairman of NIGF'13, NIRA president, Mrs Mary Uduma and CommTech Minister, Mrs Johnson

The chairman of the 2013 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, who doubles as the Chairman, Openmedia Communications Ltd, has shared his thoughts on ‘Addressing the Vulnerability of Critical ICT Infrastructure’ in the country.

He told DigitalSENSE Business News at NIGF’13 in Abuja that greatest vulnerability comes from lack of awareness and acceptance of the risk pose to the nation’s infrastructure and economic well-being by threats or attacks on such infrastructure.

Ndukwe, who was the co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Broadband said that the committee had proposed that ICT infrastructure be declared Critical National Infrastructure.

“This is a necessary first step in mitigating the risks,” he declared, stressing that the some other physical issues could also occur from non-timely renewal of technologies and systems, general failure in technology, systems or processes and the usage that far exceed original design specifications, as well as centralisation of infrastructure leading to a possible single point of failure.

Ndukwe also noted that itt may not really matter whether critical infrastructure is lost or disrupted due to terrorism, bad planning or deterioration.

Emphasising that what is essential is to develop a long-term infrastructure vulnerability mitigation strategy with close collaboration between government and the operators, in order to address infrastructure design, protection and upgrades.

According to him, this issue needs to rise to the level of a national agenda and given high priority status.

Earlier in her welcome address, the President of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) and convener of NIGF 2013, Mrs. Mary Uduma, said that formation of National Local Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group (LMAG) for NIGF is an indication that the country is making progress in harmonization of interests and opinions based on Multi-stakeholderism.

Additionally, she said, that real life proactive engagement of over 400 active participants from industry, government, law maker, academia, civil society and all domestic stakeholders in the strategic national debate on Internet Governance issues, was another plus.

As said by her, delivering opportunity to advance Internet Governance issues through a local multi-stakeholder framework and facilitation of local partnerships and coalitions that deliver coordinated domestic response, initiatives, and synergy that best promote and protect the nation’s position on the internet ecosystem were added value to the progress report of LMAG in Nigeria.

She stated that federal government recognition and active participation through her agencies and regional recognition by West African IGF with a coordinated representation of Nigeria at the Global IGF remain encouraging to the efforts of LMAG.

Remmy Nweke
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!