Israel has pledged to assist Nigeria in tackling cyber crime and internal insecurity through the use of modern technology.

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Guy Feldman, gave this pledge in Abuja at a conference tagged: ‘Homeland and Cyber Security’.

The envoy, who decried the menace of cyber crime across the world, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the ugly trend in Nigeria.

According to him, Israel is a small country but it has a vast experience in cyber security, due to its technology and human capital development.

Feldman described Nigeria as the “Lion of Africa’’ which deserves all the support from the international community to evolve a virile and prosperous nation.

He emphasised the need to deploy hi-tech technology, surveillance cameras and security gadgets to strategic sectors of the nation such as the financial and oil sectors.

The ambassador said both countries were already discussing how to strengthen ties and enhance business/security relations.

He said Nigeria could use the current recession and drop in oil prices to diversify its economy and focus on agriculture.

Minister of Interior, retired Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau, in his remarks, emphasised the need for cyber security to safeguard the nation.

Represented by one of his aides, retired Brigadier-General Saleh Bala, he said Nigeria would continue to collaborate with Israel and other foreign countries to develop the nation.

Israeli security expert, Aviad Marco, who delivered a lecture on the efforts at tackling cyber crime, described the phenomenon as a new form of terrorism, saying the activities of hackers, especially on sensitive database, could bring a country down if not checkmated.

He said Israel was ready to support Nigeria in fortifying its sensitive database and protect critical national assets, using the latest technology, saying Israel had collaborated with the Lagos State Government in addressing some of its security and traffic issues and was ready to do same with the Federal Government.