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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged Nigerians to see fighting e-fraud on telecoms platforms as a collective responsibilities.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, stated this at the 2nd quarter of 2023 open forum of the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF), held in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Combating e-fraud on telecom platforms and building consumer confidence in the digital economy,’ Danbatta said combatting e-fraud is not just the responsibility of industry stakeholders and authorities, stressing that consumers too must be active participants in the battle against e-fraud.
“Building consumer awareness and promoting digital literacy is crucial to empowering individuals to protect themselves. Telecom operators should educate their customers about potential risks, provide guidance on secure online practices and offer user-friendly tools to monitor and manage their accounts. Regular communication with customers, promptly addressing their concerns, and providing timely updates on security issues are vital in establishing trust. To build consumer confidence in the Digital Economy, we must emphasise transparency and accountability. Telecom operators should be transparent about their security measures, privacy policies, and incident response mechanisms. Collaboration with third-party security firms and independent audits can also help validate the integrity of telecom platforms.
“To further protect telecom consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) periodically notifies telecom consumers of the latest cybersecurity threats and how to avoid falling victim to them. NCC-CSIRT in collaboration with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) at the office of the National Security Adviser has been at the forefront of protecting telecom consumers from cyber threats.
“The provision of timely advisories has helped to protect consumers from being unfairly targeted by cyber-attacks, which goes a long way in ensuring that they can access digital services without suffering unwarranted losses. We strongly believe that by fostering a culture of vigilance and knowledge, we can collectively reduce the success rate of e-fraud attempts.
“Combatting e-fraud on telecom platforms and building consumer confidence in the digital economy requires a collective effort. Telecom operators, regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and consumers must collaborate, each fulfilling their respective responsibilities. By investing in robust security infrastructure, implementing stringent protocols, promoting awareness, and fostering innovation, we can create a safer digital ecosystem that inspires trust and enables the full potential of the digital economy,” he said.
Danbatta further said Nigeria in recent years, has witnessed a remarkable growth in the digital economy, revolutionising the way of communication, transaction and business conduct.
“The telecom sector plays a pivotal role in enabling this digital transformation, providing the infrastructure and connectivity that fuel our interconnected world. However, with these advancements come new challenges, one of which is the rising tide of e-fraud and cybersecurity concerns.
“As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we must address the growing concern of fraudulent activities in the digital realm and take proactive measures to safeguard the trust and confidence of consumers.
“The NCC as the regulator of the communications sector has a crucial role to play in combatting e-fraud. We must establish comprehensive legal frameworks and standards that mandate sound security practices for telecom operators. The legal framework must focus on data protection, privacy and incident response, ensuring that operators are held accountable for any lapses in security on their respective networks.
“The NCC is also in the process of developing more elaborate Data Protection Regulations to ensure the protection and privacy of data in the Nigerian communications sector. It is important to mention that the Commission has issued the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007 which among other things, provides for the protection of consumer information,” he added.
