By Angela Nwanodu
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, has tasked MDAs with enforcing two-factor authentication (2FA) across government.
Agbata gave the charge during the Agency’s weekly stand-up meeting on October 27, warning that compromised passwords and hijacked browser sessions could expose official accounts and sensitive government information to unauthorised access.
He stressed that cybersecurity must be a shared responsibility, urging public servants to adopt safer digital practices. “If, as human beings, we work to protect ourselves against physical accidents, we must also take deliberate steps to protect our digital lives,” he said.
Agbata recommended strong, unique alphanumeric passwords, authenticator applications such as Authy, and regular security reviews. He also advised users to change passwords promptly whenever any compromise is suspected.
Explaining the importance of 2FA, he noted that the additional verification layer makes unauthorised access more difficult, even when login credentials have been compromised.
He also highlighted the risk of browser-session hijacking, urging staff to practise safe browsing, keep software updated, secure their devices, and sign out properly, particularly when using shared computers.
Agbata called on MDAs to make stronger authentication a standard security practice, especially for official email accounts, administrative accounts, and systems containing sensitive government information.
“To ensure wider implementation, the Agency will support adoption through its MDA Compliance Unit and other implementation channels, reinforcing institutional responsibility for stronger cybersecurity practices across government,” Agbata added.
The initiative reinforces the need to match Anambra’s digital transformation with robust security measures, protecting government information and digital services as public institutions expand their use of technology.
Angela is from the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State.
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