The Federal Government has unveiled plans to strengthen Nigeria’s cyber defence systems through the creation of a National Cybersecurity Coordination Council, a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at safeguarding the country’s growing digital economy.
The initiative was announced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, as part of broader efforts to enhance collaboration, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to cyber threats affecting both public and private institutions.
According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the proposed council will operate as a non-statutory coordination platform bringing together organisations responsible for protecting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
“The platform would convene key actors across sectors to enable efficient coordination, trusted information exchange and sustained cooperation in addressing cybersecurity risks,” the ministry said. It will also provide advisory support to the federal government on strategies and frameworks needed to strengthen national cyber resilience.
The move comes amid rising cybersecurity incidents affecting businesses, public systems and the country’s services sector, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated nature of digital threats targeting Nigeria’s expanding online ecosystem.
Authorities say such threats are often driven by organised cybercriminal networks seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and disrupt operations across critical sectors.
To address these challenges, the government is promoting a collective defence model that encourages stronger cooperation between government institutions, private-sector operators, industry associations and regulators.
The proposed council is expected to include chief information security officers from major sectors, recognised cybersecurity professional associations, digital security researchers and international technology providers operating in Nigeria.
Professional bodies such as the Nigerian Computer Society, alongside law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and government ministries responsible for digital infrastructure and information governance, are also expected to participate.
Through the platform, stakeholders will work to develop trusted threat-intelligence sharing systems, sector-wide cyber defence protocols aligned with national strategies, and capacity-building programmes to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity workforce.
The council will also support coordinated responses to cyber incidents, including frameworks for recovery and cyber risk management.
To begin the process, the minister has directed key agencies—including the National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigerian Communications Commission, Galaxy Backbone Limited and Nigeria Data Protection Commission—to establish a technical coordination secretariat and develop initial terms of reference for stakeholder engagement.
The secretariat will be housed within the National Information Technology Development Agency and operate under the strategic coordination of the minister’s office to ensure alignment with national cybersecurity priorities.
As part of the engagement process, the ministry will also convene a national cybersecurity industry roundtable later this month to launch stakeholder consultations and develop the operational framework for the proposed council.
Speaking on the initiative, Tijani emphasised that safeguarding Nigeria’s digital ecosystem requires collective national action.
“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,” he said.
He added that sustained cooperation would help Nigeria detect cyber threats earlier, respond more effectively to incidents and build a resilient and trusted digital environment.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening cybersecurity governance, encouraging responsible digital innovation and protecting Nigeria’s digital future as the country’s technology sector continues to expand.
