The Federal Government says it is determined to protect Nigerians’ rights and privacy in the digital space.
To achieve this, it said it has developed several policy and regulatory frameworks to strengthen cybersecurity.
Dr Ayodele Bakare, Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Department, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said this during an interview with reporters in Abuja on Monday.
He said cybersecurity governance in Nigeria is implemented through a collaborative approach involving multiple government institutions with different responsibilities.
According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) provides overall coordination of national cybersecurity efforts through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, which serves as its operational arm.
“At the national level, cybersecurity implementation is done collectively, and different government organizations 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 said one of the key policy instruments guiding the country’s cybersecurity efforts is the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy Framework.
He also highlighted the legal framework provided by the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, which was recently amended in 2024 to strengthen Nigeria’s response to cyber threats and digital crimes.
According to him, NITDA has also introduced sector-specific regulations to enhance cybersecurity in the country.
“One of these regulations is the National Public Key Infrastructure Regulation, which is one of the core infrastructures required to ensure trust and security in digital communications and transactions,” he said.
Bakare said NITDA played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s data protection landscape through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which laid the foundation for the current data protection framework.
He said the regulation has since evolved into a full legal framework implemented by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
Bakare disclosed that the agency was also finalizing an Information Security Regulation that would soon be made available to the public.
He further explained that the regulation would provide organizations and individuals with clear guidelines on their responsibilities in safeguarding information and digital assets.
“Nigeria has continued to strengthen its legal and policy environment for cybersecurity, a development 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 told reporters.
He said sustained collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders remained essential to effectively implement the existing policies and strengthen Nigeria’s digital security architecture.
