The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has warned against use of free email services by several government officials for conducting official businesses.
The MRA said it is a violation of Government policy which successive administrations endorsed.
In a statement signed by its Programme Officer in charge of cyber-security, Ms Esther Adeniyi, MRA maintained that the practice poses significant risks to national security, data privacy, and the integrity of government operations.
According to the MRA, free email services such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, and Outlook.com, lack the robust security features necessary to protect sensitive government information and that their use by government officials opens up the possibility of data breaches, cyber-attacks, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, which could have serious repercussions for national security and public trust.
MRA recalls that in 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Policy on the Nigerian Government Second-Level Domains, which was aimed at safeguarding official communications using government top-level domains.
MRA recalls that after the FEC approval of the policy, the then minister of communication and digital economy, Isa Ali Pantami, directed government officials to migrate from using generic domains in their websites and emails to the “second level under the government top-level domain”, warning that the use of private emails for official communications by government officials would no longer be tolerated.
Recall that at the formal unveiling of the policy in 2023, then President Muhammadu Buhari similarly directed all government officials to use relevant government domains for official purposes.
Ms Adeniyi noted that despite the adoption of the policy and various directives dating back to years, hundreds of government officials at Federal, State and Local Government levels have continued to use free email services to conduct official businesses with impunity.
She said: “In an age where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, and the need to ensure data security have become more critical than ever, it is imperative that government officials avoid using free email services for official business as the challenges associated with the practice, ranging from security vulnerabilities and lack of data control to professionalism concerns and non-compliance with laws and regulations are too significant to ignore.”
“The government should invest in secure, government-operated email systems that offer the necessary protections and ensure that all official communications are conducted in a manner that upholds the integrity, security and professionalism of government operations while also better protecting sensitive information, maintaining public trust, and ensuring that the government meets its obligations to the Nigerian people.”
Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim, from Bauchi State, is a literary enthusiast and an advocate for women’s rights. As the Editor and Lead Podcaster at WikkiTimes, she draws on her background in Sociology and Education to create compelling narratives that amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
An avid Scrabble player and tea enthusiast, Hafsah blends her passion for storytelling with a strong commitment to driving social change.
