NigComSat frowns at the proliferation of foreign ICT vendors

The Board of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) has raised concerns over the  proliferation and domination of Foreign Information and Communications Technology (ICT) vendors in Nigeria, warning that such practice is capable of undermining the nation’s war against security challenges.
Chairman of the board, Prof. Turner Isoun, after a board meeting recently, saying this proliferation of foreign ICT vendors proposing and supplying security solutions to Nigerian security, Para-military and critical infrastructure bodies portend serious threats.
According to Isoun the danger is that the nation is exposed “to a myriad of potential security threats from otherwise restricted data being exposed to numerous vendors”.
Isoun who is the longest serving Science and Technology Minister in Nigeria’s history explained that “this predicament is particularly worrisome not only because of the present state of national insecurity but also because NigComSat  limited is the only government agency mandated to act as a clearing house and solution provider for security related ICT solutions to Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and institutions”.
Indeed, NigComSat limited currently manages the National Public Safety Communications Systems (NPSCS), a national safety network.
A network upgrade has commenced for the public safety system, Isoun explained, adding that the board chairman said, is to protect the nation’s borders and other key infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines.
He therefore “cautions all government agencies to direct their ICT needs to NIGCOMSAT limited or through the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology within the next four weeks.