FG sets up cyber defence team after bank hacks

The Federal Government plans to start a new group called the Cybersecurity Coordination Council. This team will join hands between government offices, banks, tech firms, and security experts to fight cyber attacks. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani shared the news today.

It comes after recent hacks hit banks and payment systems in Nigeria.

Hackers have caused big trouble lately. The group ByteToBreach said they broke into Sterling Bank. They claimed to steal data from hundreds of thousands of customer accounts. Sterling has not said if it’s true.

Then, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) faced a fraud attack. Thieves tried to take over ₦3 billion. FCMB stopped most of it but lost ₦677 million. These events show how strong the attacks are getting.

Similar read: Remita hacked? Same crew behind Sterling Bank breach hits Nigeria’s payment giant

Tijani said cyber threats need everyone to work together. “Cybersecurity is for all of us,” he added. “We must share info and watch out as one.” No more fighting alone in each group. The council will help spot dangers early and fix them fast.

New cyber defence team to share info and train people

The council will not make rules. It will be a place to talk and plan. Members include bank security heads, tech groups like the Nigerian Computer Society, global tech companies, police, and more. They will share warnings about attacks, set safety steps for all sectors, train more cyber experts, and make plans for quick fixes after hacks.

To start, Tijani told four agencies to team up. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will host the main office.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, and Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) will help. They report straight to the minister.

The government plans a big meeting in April. It’s a national cybersecurity roundtable. Banks, companies, and experts will give ideas on how the council should work. This kicks off the real action.

Nigeria’s online world grows fast. More people use apps, banks, and payments on phones. This makes hackers happy. They target big money spots.

The government knows one bank hack can hurt everyone. Shared plans will make the country stronger.

This move shows that Nigeria takes cyber danger seriously. Banks like Sterling and FCMB felt the pain. Now all must join forces. The April meeting will set the pace. Watch for more news soon.