Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity and AI Readiness to Safeguard Digital Economy – NITDA DG

Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity and AI Readiness to Safeguard Digital Economy – NITDA DG

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA October, 2025 -

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s digital economy through strengthened cybersecurity systems, resilient infrastructure, and enhanced human capacity for Artificial Intelligence (AI). He stated this while delivering a keynote address titled “Securing Digital Economy: Strengthening Infrastructure and Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence” at the Cyber Nigeria Summit organized by the Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN).

Inuwa described the digital economy as central to Nigeria’s growth strategy, noting that the ICT sector currently contributes about 17 percent to the national GDP, with digital technologies driving productivity across all sectors. However, he warned that while AI boosts efficiency and innovation, it also introduces new risks. “Cybercrime now costs the world over $10 trillion annually, making it the most profitable form of crime globally,” he said, emphasizing that cybersecurity must evolve beyond physical protection to address AI-driven threats.

Highlighting Nigeria’s proactive measures, the NITDA DG outlined four strategic pillars guiding the nation’s cybersecurity efforts: governance, capacity building, incident management, and collaboration. He said the recently amended Cybercrime Act and the Presidential Executive Order on Critical Digital Information Infrastructure have elevated cyberspace protection to a matter of national security. He added that Nigeria’s youthful population presents an opportunity to bridge the global cybersecurity workforce gap through initiatives like the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), which aim to achieve 95 percent digital literacy by 2030.

Inuwa also disclosed that the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser is now fully operational, ensuring prompt responses to cyber incidents, while sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in finance, communications, and law enforcement are enhancing national coordination. He stressed that collaboration with international partners—including the African Union, Smart Africa, and global tech firms—remains key to building cyber resilience.

He urged Nigerians to practice good cyber hygiene, such as using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and reporting cyber incidents promptly. “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility,” Inuwa said. “By working together—government, private sector, and citizens—we can secure Nigeria’s digital future and harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence for sustainable national development.”