FG Pledges to Strengthen Cybersecurity, Protect Nigerians’ Digital Rights

By Abah Margaret

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and privacy of Nigerians in the digital space through strengthened cybersecurity policies and regulatory frameworks.

Assistant Director in the Cybersecurity Department of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Ayodele Bakare, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

Bakare explained that Nigeria’s cybersecurity governance is implemented through a collaborative system involving several government institutions with clearly defined responsibilities.

He said the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) coordinates national cybersecurity efforts through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, which serves as its operational arm.

According to him, cybersecurity implementation in the country is carried out collectively, with different government agencies responsible for various aspects of the national cybersecurity framework.

“At the national level, cybersecurity implementation is done collectively, and different government organisations are responsible for implementing different aspects of the national cybersecurity framework.

“At the top, however, the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinates these efforts through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre,” he said.

Bakare noted that one of the major policy instruments guiding Nigeria’s cybersecurity drive is the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy Framework.

He also highlighted the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015, which was amended in 2024 to strengthen Nigeria’s response to cyber threats and digital crimes.

The NITDA official further disclosed that the agency has introduced sector-specific regulations to boost cybersecurity in the country.

“One of such regulations is the National Public Key Infrastructure Regulation, which is a core infrastructure required to ensure trust and security in digital communications and transactions,” he said.

Bakare added that NITDA played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s data protection landscape through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which laid the foundation for the country’s current data protection framework.

He said the regulation has since evolved into a comprehensive legal framework now implemented by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

According to him, the agency is also finalising an Information Security Regulation that will soon be made available to the public to guide organisations and individuals on safeguarding information and digital assets.

Bakare said Nigeria’s continued efforts to strengthen its legal and policy environment for cybersecurity are reflected in the country’s performance in the Global Cybersecurity Index.

“One of the pillars of the index focuses on legal measures and assesses the availability of national cybersecurity laws and regulations.

“Nigeria recorded a strong performance under the legal measures pillar, reflecting the country’s efforts to establish the necessary frameworks to support cybersecurity governance,” he said.

He stressed that sustained collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders remains critical for the effective implementation of existing policies and for strengthening Nigeria’s digital security architecture.