The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt a unified approach to cybersecurity, warning that fragmented security systems are exposing Nigeria’s government digital infrastructure to increasing cyber threats.
In a statement issued by NITDA, the agency said the call was made at a two-day workshop titled “Securing Government Digital Infrastructure Through Capacity Building,” focused on improving cybersecurity capacity among government institutions.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, the Assistant Director of the Cybersecurity Department, Dr. Ayodele Bakare, said government platforms are facing growing attacks, including website defacements, account hijacking, ransomware attacks and data exfiltration.
Bakare said stolen information from affected systems often appears on the dark web, adding that the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals requires stronger coordination among government institutions.
He cited a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assessment, which ranked Nigeria among Africa’s three most targeted countries for cyberattacks. He also referenced the 2026 Lloyd’s Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook, which estimated that cybercrime cost the country more than $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.
According to Bakare, cyber threats against government institutions are organised, financially motivated and politically driven, noting that a weakness in one MDA could create an entry point for attacks on others.
He urged participants to see the workshop beyond training by using it as a platform for intelligence sharing, policy discussions and strengthening incident response.
He added that activities at the workshop include reviewing NITDA’s draft Regulatory Guidelines for Government Information Security Management and analysing real-world cyber incidents.
Bakare reaffirmed that NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) remains available to support government institutions in responding to cybersecurity challenges, while stressing the importance of risk assessment, policy enforcement and improved cybersecurity awareness.
He called for continued collaboration among MDAs to build a coordinated cybersecurity framework capable of protecting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and supporting the country’s growing digital economy.
