National Security and Law Enforcement

 Policy Statement 

Protect and promote the interest, assets and safety of Nigeria, Nigerians and those we work with in the global environment, by developing knowledgeable manpower with commensurate discipline and IT skills-set capable of efficiently generating and effectively utilizing information in a timely manner, for national decision making.

Objectives

1. To safeguard life and property of all Nigerian both at home and abroad.

2. To preserve the territorial integrity of our borders and assets.

3. To provide attractive career opportunities for our citizens.

Strategies

1. Using IT to combat contemporary and emerging security threats and challenges that are being re-defined by Information Technology.

2. Raising awareness and educating National Security and Law Enforcement personnel at all levels on the use, benefit and risks of new IT environment.

3. Appropriately informing and protecting our citizens, government, infrastructure and assets from illegal and destructive activities found in the global electronic environment thus enhancing the confidence of our nation and its partners in our citizens, government and infrastructure. 

4. Government through the Federal Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the NITDA, and after due deliberation with IT and sectoral experts, will frame appropriate legislation in the following areas, namely;
   a. Computer Crimes,
   b. Digital Signature
   c. Tele-Medicine
   d. Tele-Education
   e. Intellectual Property/ Copyright
   f. Consumer Protection 
   g. Media Convergence 
   h. Electronic Government
   i. Electronic Commerce

Regulations

1. A regulatory framework is essential to avoid violating policy goals and direction, while incorporating social and consumer concerns in the deployment of new products and services, and to safeguard national resources. A continuous balance must be achieved between under-regulation that breeds sharp practices and excessive regulations that stifle industry investment and growth.

2. In devising a useful regulatory framework, the following steps shall be taken:
   a. Focus on creating an equitable, fair, just and competitive environment, based on the principles of the free market and open unfettered access to products and services.
   b. Make optimum use of existing Information Communication Technology investments, and removal of restrictions on voice and video transmission via the Internet, Intranet, or other data communication media.
   c. Allow network operators the freedom to build their own backbone and local access, and encourage collaborative private sector efforts in this regard.
   d. Facilitate deployment of infrastructure for advancement of IT and related services.
   e. Review government management and procurement policies to ensure that they encourage competition among IT service providers.
   f. Promote the self-sustained development of Nigerian IT solution providers in areas such as training, software development and "service" houses by ensuring that not less than 30% of the value of all IT contract awards by government are undertaken using local value added products, services or personnel.

Standards

1. The government through NITDA shall adopt standards on an ongoing basis as part of a continuing IT planning process by initially determining what and where to standardize and the costs versus benefits of standardization. Issues to be considered include:
   a. Compatibility in sharing of data and information.
   b. Effective and efficient sharing of skills and knowledge.
   c. Efficient usage of resources.
   d. Improved product quality.
   e. Avoiding the stifling of creativity and development of new products and ideas.

2. The relevant Policy and Technical committee shall study, review and produce advisory standards to be adopted in the use of IT by the government and the private sector.

3. For the public sector the government will ensure that federally owned, funded or controlled organisations (federal agencies); cooperate in the use of information technology to improve the productivity of Federal programs and to promote a coordinated, interoperable, secure and shared Government - wide infrastructure.

4. Establish inter-agency support structures that builds on existing successful inter-agency efforts and shall provide expertise and advice to agencies.

5. Recommended Standards shall be reviewed and published on a regular basis. The publications shall be used as guidelines by government, public and private sector organizations throughout the country. Where specific standards are identified as critical to the development and deployment of a countrywide infrastructure, compliance with these shall be made mandatory.