Concerned by the surge in cyberattacks and their growing threat to Nigeria’s economy and ICT sector, experts are calling for a unified, sovereign cybersecurity strategy to safeguard the nation’s digital future.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Amid rising cyberattacks and growing threats to Nigeria’s economy and ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity experts have called for a sovereign, unified national strategy to defend the country’s digital space and ensure long-term resilience.

The call was made at the 2025 Cybersecurity Forum held in Abuja, themed: “Digital Sovereignty: Building an Agile and Resilient Nation.” The event was organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body for IT professionals in the country.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, warned that cyber threats now pose an existential danger to Nigeria’s national security and economic stability. Represented by Assistant Commander Robert Okwor, Acting Director of the EFCC’s ICT Department, Olukoyede revealed that Nigeria lost an estimated $500 million (N250 billion) to cybercrime over the past two years.

“The EFCC’s 2023 report shows that over 80% of financial fraud cases investigated were cyber-enabled. These include phishing, identity theft, account takeovers—whether through bank apps, social media, or ransomware attacks. Nigeria ranked among the top three most targeted African nations in Interpol’s 2024 report. This shows that our digital economy is under siege,” he said.

To reverse this trend, Olukoyede urged the government to strengthen legislation under the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act, address emerging threats like AI-driven fraud, and enhance public-private collaboration. He added that the EFCC is committed to working with other agencies and private sector players to improve threat intelligence sharing and real-time response.

Also speaking at the event, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, stressed the need to protect Nigeria’s critical infrastructure and financial systems through strategic partnerships. Represented by Major General Henry Yanai, Director of Electronic Warfare at the Defence Headquarters, Musa highlighted the steps the military is taking to improve cyber defense.

“This forum is both timely and vital. The Defence Headquarters has developed cybersecurity capabilities to safeguard ICT and national information infrastructure. We’ve established a Directorate of Cybersecurity at the Defence Space Administration, and the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command continues to defend against digital threats,” he noted.

For her part, the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described identity management as key to national growth and inclusion. Represented by Mr. Olufemi Fabunmi, Director of Corporate Services at NIMC, she said the agency is positioned to transform Nigeria’s digital space through collaborative and creative approaches.

“NIMC’s work goes beyond numbers. It’s about transforming lives and building an inclusive nation where no one is left behind,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, MD/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, emphasised the importance of digital sovereignty. He warned that Nigeria’s growing dependence on foreign cloud services poses serious national security risks.

“In the past, software came on physical CDs; now it’s all on cloud platforms like Microsoft’s. This shift raises serious questions about our data sovereignty. From ransomware to state-backed attacks, no country is immune. Nigeria’s expanding digital landscape makes it a prime target,” Adeyanju stated.

Citing Kaspersky’s 2022 report, he said Nigeria ranked among the top African countries for malware attacks. He advocated for a balanced approach to data localisation, while also scaling local capacity and innovation.

“We must invest in local R&D, support tech startups, and encourage domestic innovation. Initiatives like the Nigeria Startup Act, and platforms like Galaxy Backbone, CoveNet, and indigenous cloud services are all steps in the right direction,” he said.

Adeyanju also stressed the need to store government data within Nigeria to strengthen digital sovereignty and protect sensitive information. He highlighted the federal government’s recent investment in two world-class data centres as a major step forward.

To achieve technological independence, he urged the government to back local developers, reduce reliance on foreign digital infrastructure, and enforce strategic procurement policies favoring indigenous solutions.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, President of the Nigeria Computer Society, said the forum was created to address the growing cybersecurity challenges facing Nigeria and explore innovative ways to equip IT professionals with the skills needed in an evolving digital era.

“This forum brings together the brightest minds across sectors—government, industry, academia, and civil society. Together, we’ll examine not only current threats but also look ahead to issues like AI security, data protection, incident response, and international cooperation,” Aliyu said.