The Department of State Security Services (SSS) also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), has said that government and security agencies alone cannot tackle insecurity in the country without the support of the citizens especially on intelligence gathering.
The Director General of the agency, Yusuf Bichi, said this on Saturday night in Abuja at the Security and Emergency Awards (SEMA 2020), where the organization was conferred with an award by Emergency Digest, a security tabloid.
The DG, represented by the service spokesman, Peter Afunanya, urged Nigerians to support the security agencies to rid the country of all forms of criminality, rather than point accusing fingers at them.
“We call in Nigerians to support security agencies and government. Security is no longer for government and security agencies, there is need for collaborative efforts and partnership.
“You continue to stay in your comfort zone and continue to blame security agencies for all, but the information that the security agencies need have you brought it?
“All those bad people are part of our communities, they live in our neighbourhood, if you know one, tell the security agencies about them. If you have not done all these, its time for us to have a rethink, it’s time for us to have a change of mind to re-dedicate ourselves to the ideals of building a country that is devoid of any kind of insecurity,” he said.
Cybersecurity
Also, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, at the occasion said Cybersecurity sector is estimated at $2.32bn and projected to become $3.6 – $4.2bn by 2023.
The Minister, represented by Mr. Emeka Okoye, Direct ICT, therefore called on all stakeholders to make an input in developing the National Digital Economy so that Nigeria can maximise its security benefits.
“It is a known fact that opportunities through digital economy in cyberspace go hand in hand with cyber risks and cyber threats. Cybersecurity is a need in the progress and growth of digital economy. As a nation capitalising on digital revolution, cybersecurity is a national priority to foster economic welfare,” he said.
The minister said that government is currently in the process of reviewing the Cybercrime Act to meet the emerging security challenges of the nation such as terrorism and cyberspace criminality.
Pantami noted that the subject of Cybersecurity has been addressed in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which focuses on strengthening public confidence in the use of digital technologies and participation in the digital economy.
At the event, Pantami, won the minister of the year and was honoured for initiatives in cyber security and digital economy, while the DSS was awarded for intelligence service; EFCC was recognised for crime prevention and Airtel for community service.
Other recipients include; NITDA for Corporate Social Responsibility; Nigeria Correctional Service for Crime prevention; Nigerian Customs Service for Public Information; and Neem Foundation for Humanitarian services among others.
