Lawmakers Step Up Push for Safer Cyberspace

The Senate and House of Representatives Committees on ICT and Cybersecurity on Monday took a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s cyberspace by commencing a three-day digital retreat aimed at enhancing lawmakers’ digital capacity and advancing cybersecurity legislation.

The retreat, held at Zuma Resort under the National Assembly Digital Summit and sponsored by Meta, brought together members of both committees and their secretariat staff. The programme, themed “Building a Future-Ready Legislative Framework: Digital Innovation, Safety & Economic Growth,” is designed to improve digital literacy among federal lawmakers and, by extension, promote digital awareness across the country.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (Ogun Central), said cyberspace must not be left vulnerable to abuse, warning that it should not become an ungoverned space similar to areas exploited by criminals in parts of the country. He noted that the retreat would equip lawmakers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively participate in the digital space while preparing them for the forthcoming public hearing on the Cybercrimes Bill.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, said the retreat aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Agenda and is intended to strengthen lawmakers’ capacity to respond to the rapid evolution of technology and reinforce the country’s digital policy framework.