The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commenced operations of the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) to ensure safety of communication services online.

Mrs Hadiza Umar, the Head, Cooperate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, said this on Wednesday in a statement in Abuja.

Umar said that the commencement of the NPKI was unveiled by Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the agency in a Key Generation and Handover Ceremony for Root Certification Authority (RCA) for Country Signing Certification Authority (CSCA) and Country Verification Certification Authority (CVCA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She said that the NPKI would be pivotal to the achievement of digital economy services in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).

“The national PKI will guarantee, secure communication for all online services, provide security against unauthorised access and disclosure of stored information by addressing the fundamentals of cyber security confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation.

“The deployment of the national PKI will empower e-Government and digital economy transformations through the provision of secure data exchange and authentication for electronic transactions protection which can be leveraged by the banking sector and its regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“It will ensure accreditation and authorisation of web applications which can be utilised by startups, Micro Small Medium Enterprise and corporate organisations.

“NPKI will accelerate local and cheaper digital certificates for Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME), email signing and encryption for organisations,” Umar said.

According to her, it will ensure trust, transparency, accountability, validation services in the issuance,authentication of digital identity, passports and travel documents, stamp duty, tax clearance certificates, health test results and vaccine certificates among others.

She recalled that in August 2017, the Federal Government issued Presidential directives mandating NITDA to harmonise all Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) related projects in Nigeria, in line with its mandate.

Umar added that the deployment of the national PKI would facilitate effective administration and regulation of the national PKI, ensuring full use and benefits of the associated PKI-as-a-Service (PaaS).

“Deploying the national PKI will facilitate the issuance of Document Signer Certificates, the management of the Public Key Directory (PKD) via the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) Master-list.

“It will further enhance the use of digital certificates to authenticate documents, in line with the NDEPS,” Umar said.

The launch, she said was performed by Veridos Germany, witnessed by NIMC, Galaxy Backbone Limited,Standard Organisation of Nigeria, among other stakeholders.(NAN)

Dr Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, said that 23 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) were inaugurated in some states of the federation, with 13 others underway.

He said that the projects would be achieved by 2022, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Pantami made the disclosure on Monday at the Batch 10 Launching of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) projects in Abuja.

The launching of the projects, which held virtually, was in line with the Digital Economy agenda 2020 to 2030 and President Muhammadu Buhari’s target to fight corruption, transform the economy and ensure security.

The projects launched were the National Policy on Virtual Engagements in the Federal Public Institutions, ECC Akure, Ondo State, and Digital Economy Centre (DEC), Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.

Others were DEC, Delta State University, Abraka and DEC, Government Secondary School, Rigasa (Main), Kaduna State.

Pantami explained that the National Policy on Virtual Engagements, which was institutionalised in collaboration with Office of the Head of Service, was to ensure the legality of virtual meetings in public service.

He said the ECC was designed to be present in every state of the federation for emergencies while the DECs, coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), were to facilitate learning in tertiary institutions.

“In less than two years, we have commissioned around 23 emergency communications centres all over the country and we have around 13 underway.

“It is our plan to have at least one ECC in every state of the federation by 2022.

“These centres are very important; it is a toll free number and if you make a call nothing will be deducted from your mobile account.

“This is to make it easier for all citizens to patronise; and which will go a long way to support citizens in emergency cases, security situations,” he said.

Pantami added that the virtual engagements had saved cost for the FG, hence the money deployed to other areas of governance.

According to him, the DECs are being equipped with computers for both students and staff members, internet facilities, solar system, and in some cases backup generator for power.

“The DEC will serve as a capacity Building Centre to enable the promotion of knowledge-based economic growth, an avenue for creating jobs and providing access to information, knowledge and government enabled digital services for rural communities.

“The centre is an avenue for stimulating economic growth by creating new products, increasing productivity and promoting new commercial and administrative methods.

“The ECC project was set up to promote and enhance public safety through the use of the 112 number, designated as the Universal Safety and Emergency Assistance Number, for telephone services generally.

“It will encourage and facilitate the prompt deployment of a seamless, ubiquitous and reliable end-to-end infrastructure for emergency communications needs,” he said.

Similarly, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, Minister for States, Mines and Steel Development, noted that the ICT sector had contributed greatly to the development of the country, hence the need to create a backup policy on virtual engagements.

Also, Mr Yakubu Oseni, Senate Committee Chairman on ICT, assured that the legislative arm of government would sustain support to the ministry to ensure digital economy initiatives were achieved. (NAN)

The Postmaster General (PMG) Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), Dr Ismail Adewusi, has said that the outfit is not at war with any agency of the government.
Adewusi stated this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the President, Silverbird Group Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce and the group’s management team at its national headquarters.
Adewusi said that rather than fight any battle with another government agency, the post was working with them to move the government forward.
He said NIPOST had a mandate which includes production of postage stamps including revenue stamps.
“Every government agency has its mandate.
“NIPOST has a mandate which includes production of postage stamps including revenue stamps which was covered by the Finance Act 2020.
“The postage stamps that NIPOST creates are not just to post letters but to also authenticate documents,” he said.
According to the PMG, the post worked in partnership with the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure safety and legality of public documents.
“ We are not tax collectors but we provide instruments to validate the taxes collected,” he said.
In his response, Murray-Bruce promised a refreshing and fulfilling partnership with NIPOST.
He stated that both parties should look at areas that they could both work on to ensure marketing of NIPOST products and services.

He also said that it was important for Nigerian to be knowledgeable in the area of postal code and its importance in data gathering of house addresses.
He added that the group was hopeful that the partnership would promote peace and stability. (NAN)