The Federal Government has launched the National Digital Trustmark for online companies.
The initiative is in collaboration with key government institutions, like the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The trustmark is expected to curb online fraud, identity theft, scamming and forgery, as well as ensure trust, competitiveness, integrity, and confidence in Nigeria’s online and digital business platforms.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa, announced this while addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja.
Inuwa said the establishment of the National Digital Trustmark had become imperative due to the concerns being generated globally over online and e-commerce business activities with Nigerians and in Nigeria.
The NITDA boss said it was saddening for Nigerians to be classified as scammers and fraudsters, especially in how online businesses are conducted.
He said there were times citizens made payments for goods online and were blocked thereafter, or in cases where citizens purchased goods or services online and were not delivered according to specifications.
Inuwa said the National Digital Trustmark is being facilitated by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACIMMA) to handle the challenges in the sector.
He explained that it would come in the form of a security seal granted by NITDA for certification and authentication of online or digital business outfits.
A security seal, Inuwa explained, would be embossed on the platforms, letterheads and pages for authentication and identification as true registered companies or entities operating in Nigeria with at least one known office.
He announced that the initiative, though not compulsory, would come with charges depending on the size of the business entities and their areas of specialisations, while the portal would be open next for outfits to commence registration.
Inuwa told the media briefing, which was attended by the president of NACIMMA, Tijani Ibrahim, and a representative of GIZ, Chinedu, that the renewal of the Trustmark digital certification would be done yearly to ensure transparency and accountability of the process.
The NITDA boss said both the public and private sectors with online businesses would be eligible for the security seal.
He added that the initiative would eliminate fraud, scams, and illicit transactions in the Nigerian digital space.
Inuwa regretted that online fraud has given Nigeria a bad name on the global stage, stressing that this happened even when it had been established that some foreign nationals were behind some of the fraud.
NACCIMA President Ibrahim, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Digital Economy Trade Group, Mr. Suleiman A. Audu, said the production of the seal marked a major step towards building a safer, more trusted, and globally competitive digital economy for Nigeria.
He said NACIMMA, in collaboration with other stakeholders, especially SMEDAN, NAFDAC, SON, among others, would ensure seamless implementation of the policy without bureaucratic bottlenecks and other impediments.
Chinedu said the seal was being used in Rwanda and other countries to curb cyber fraud, identity theft and mismanagement of companies’ data and other information.