NAN-DS-66
Assistance
By Muhyideen Jimoh
Abuja, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) Israel on Friday, pledged to assist Nigeria in tackling cyber crime and internal insecurity through the use of modern technology.
The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Guy Feldman, gave this pledge in Abuja at a conference tagged: ‘Homeland and Cyber Security’.
The envoy, who decried the menace of cyber crime across the world, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the ugly trend in Nigeria.
According to him, Israel is a small country but it has a vast experience in cyber security, due to its technology and human capital development.
Feldman described Nigeria as the “Lion of Africa’’ which deserves all the support from the international community to evolve a virile and prosperous nation.
“Israel, as a country, has suffered from cyber attacks; it is not a problem for us but a challenge. This is because we have the technology and human resources to deal with the challenge,’’ he said.
He emphasised the need to deploy hi-tech technology, surveillance cameras and security gadgets to strategic sectors of the nation such as the financial and oil sectors.
The ambassador said that both countries were already discussing how to strengthen ties and enhance business/security relations.
He said that Nigeria could use the current recession and drop in oil prices to diversify its economy and focus on agriculture.
“Nigeria is blessed with a lot of arable land, water, natural resources and population, unlike Israel, which is a small country,’’ he said.
The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, in his remarks, emphasised the need for cyber security to safeguard the nation.
Represented by one of his aides, retired Brig.-Gen. Saleh Bala, he said Nigeria would continue to collaborate with Israel and other foreign countries to develop the nation.
Mr Aviad Marco, an Israeli security expert, who delivered a lecture on the efforts at tackling cyber crime, described the phenomenon as a new form of terrorism.
Marco said that the activities of hackers, especially on sensitive database, could bring a country down if not checkmated.
He said Israel was ready to support Nigeria in fortifying its sensitive database and protect critical national assets, using the latest technology.
Marco said that Israel had collaborated with the Lagos State Government in addressing some of its security and traffic issues and was ready to do same with the Federal Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, which was jointly organised by the Israeli Embassy and the Ministry of Interior, was attended by security experts and NGO representatives. (NAN)
MUYI/JEY/YEMI
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju