Nigeria's Digital Shield: FG Launches New Coordination Council to Combat Surging Cyber Threats

Abuja, Nigeria – April 2026. The digital heartbeat of Nigeria is accelerating, but so too are the shadows that lurk within its rapidly expanding cyberspace. With cyber threats growing more sophisticated and brazen, threatening everything from personal savings to critical national infrastructure, the Federal Government has taken a decisive stride towards fortifying the nation's digital defences. In a move poised to redefine Nigeria's cybersecurity landscape, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, announced in April 2026, the ambitious plan to establish a multi-stakeholder Cybersecurity Coordination Council. This isn't just another policy pronouncement; it's a strategic declaration of war against cyber adversaries, aiming to usher in an era of collective defence and enhanced digital trust for every Nigerian.

What’s Really Happening

The proposed National Cybersecurity Coordination Council arrives at a critical juncture, spurred by a worrying surge in cyber incidents that have recently disrupted major private institutions and public systems across the country. Dr. Tijani emphasized that protecting Nigeria's burgeoning digital economy is a 'shared national responsibility,' demanding robust partnerships, trusted collaboration, and collective vigilance across all sectors. This new council, envisioned as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder platform, will serve as the central hub for enhancing coordination, facilitating trusted information sharing, and crafting collective defence models against an increasingly complex threat landscape.

A technical coordination secretariat, comprising key agencies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone Limited, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has been tasked with drafting the Council's initial Terms of Reference. The formal consultation process is set to kick off this very month, April 2026, with a national cybersecurity industry roundtable. This crucial event will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders, including Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from various sectors, cybersecurity professional associations like the Nigerian Computer Society, international technology providers, digital security researchers, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations. Their collective expertise will be instrumental in co-creating the operational framework for this vital body, moving Nigeria towards a 'collective defence' model designed for early threat detection, streamlined incident recovery, and the development of a resilient cybersecurity workforce.

“Cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility. Protecting Nigeria's digital economy requires strong partnerships, trusted collaboration, and collective vigilance across government, industry, and civil society.” – Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Data Breakdown

The urgency for this coordinated approach is starkly evident in recent cybercrime statistics. Nigeria has unfortunately earned the title of Africa's top cyber target, facing over 8 billion cyberattacks in 2025 alone, averaging approximately 22,000 attacks per minute. The nation currently ranks fifth globally in cybercrime, with estimated annual losses soaring to over $500 million. Between 2019 and 2025, cybersecurity incidents across Africa resulted in financial losses exceeding $3 billion. Nigerian organizations faced an average of 4,388 cyberattacks per week in the first quarter of 2025. Phishing remains a rampant threat, with Nigeria ranking third in Africa for identified phishing cases in 2024, recording nearly 3,500 incidents. The sophistication of these attacks is escalating, with cybercriminals increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to craft highly convincing phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks.

However, amidst these challenges, there are rays of hope. The Central Bank of Nigeria reported a 51% decline in digital payment fraud losses in 2025, falling to N25.85 billion from N52.26 billion in 2024. This positive trend is attributed to improved identity management, enhanced transaction data standards, and stronger collaboration across the financial system. Initiatives like the NITDA-Google Cybersecurity Workshop held in December 2025, and NITDA's 'Cyber for Women' program in March 2026, underscore ongoing efforts to bolster cybersecurity frameworks and build human capacity.

Market or Policy Impact

For Nigerian consumers and businesses, the establishment of this Coordination Council signifies a crucial step towards a safer and more trustworthy digital ecosystem. The Council's mandate to foster information sharing and collective defence means that the cybersecurity community, from government agencies to private sector operators, will be better equipped to detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. This improved resilience will directly benefit everyday Nigerians by safeguarding their online transactions, protecting personal data, and enhancing the overall integrity of digital services, including mobile banking and e-commerce.

The initiative complements existing legislative frameworks such as the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act (2015, amended 2024) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, which provide a robust legal foundation for tackling cybercrime and protecting data privacy. Furthermore, policies such as NITDA's planned Digital Trustmark Seal, aimed at verifying the authenticity of online platforms, directly addresses consumer fears about fraudulent websites and scams. By promoting a ‘Zero Trust’ security architecture, where every access request is verified, and by emphasizing basic cybersecurity hygiene like staff training and stronger account protection, the Council aims to embed security consciousness deeply into the national digital fabric. This holistic approach is vital to prevent cyber threats from stifling Nigeria's ambition of a $1 trillion digital economy.

What Needs to Change

While the new Coordination Council represents a commendable leap forward, several critical areas require sustained focus. One significant challenge highlighted by the PwC's 29th Annual Global CEO Survey in February 2026 is the persistent cybersecurity talent gap in Nigeria. This deficit necessitates aggressive investment in capacity building and skills acquisition programs, ensuring a steady pipeline of competent cybersecurity professionals to defend the nation's cyberspace. Initiatives like NITDA's 'Cyber for Women' program are a step in the right direction, but broader, more pervasive training across all educational and professional levels is essential.

Furthermore, consistent and substantial investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and initiatives is non-negotiable. The World Bank estimates Nigeria requires an annual investment of $2 billion to adequately secure its digital economy. This calls for increased budgetary allocation and robust public-private partnerships to fund critical cybersecurity projects, research, and development. Continuous public awareness campaigns are also vital to empower Nigerian citizens with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves against evolving threats like phishing and SIM-swap fraud. Finally, the effective implementation of the Council's operational framework, coupled with rigorous oversight and clear accountability, will be paramount to translating policy ambitions into tangible improvements in Nigeria's cyber resilience. The journey to a truly secure digital Nigeria is ongoing, requiring sustained effort, adaptation, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders.