Nigeria is laying the groundwork for a resilient digital future by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), robust infrastructure, and human capital development into the core of its national cybersecurity strategy, according to the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
Speaking at the Cyber Nigeria Summit organised by the Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Inuwa said the country is moving from reaction to readiness to ensure that its expanding digital economy remains secure, adaptive, and globally competitive.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Securing Digital Economy: Strengthening Infrastructure and Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence,” the NITDA boss described cybersecurity as the silent engine that sustains Nigeria’s digital transformation drive.
“As Nigeria becomes increasingly digital, our cybersecurity posture must evolve faster than the threats we face. AI can be both a weapon and a shield; we are choosing to wield it responsibly to secure our future,” he stated.
Inuwa highlighted that the ICT sector contributes about 17 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, while digital technologies influence nearly every area of national life. The service sector alone, he added, drives about 58 per cent of total output, underscoring the deep integration of digital tools into the economy.
However, he cautioned that the rapid growth of AI has transformed the nature of cyber threats. While AI fuels innovation, it also equips cybercriminals with sophisticated tools capable of executing large-scale, precision attacks.
“Cybercrime now costs the world over 10 trillion dollars annually. The World Economic Forum ranks cybersecurity among the top five global risks. This means our strategies can no longer stop at firewalls and passwords, they must be intelligent, anticipatory, and inclusive,” he said.
The NITDA Director General stressed that protecting Nigeria’s digital economy starts from the foundation by designing systems that embed security into every layer of infrastructure, and noted that digital infrastructure now extends beyond servers and networks to encompass utilities, telecommunications, and even autonomous vehicles.
“If a hacker gains access to an autonomous car, the consequences could be disastrous. This is why we must secure the three lifelines of AI systems: data, computing power, and algorithms,” he explained.
Despite technological advancements, human error, according to Inuwa, remains the leading cause of cyber incidents globally, responsible for over 90 per cent of breaches. “Cybercriminals exploit human weakness because it’s easier to trick people than to break systems,” he said, urging sustained national efforts to build a digitally aware and cyber-conscious population.
He outlined NITDA’s human capacity initiatives, including the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme, which trains Nigerians in 12 in-demand digital skills such as cybersecurity; Complementary initiatives like the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and the Digital Literacy for All project target 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with plans to introduce digital and cybersecurity education from kindergarten to tertiary level starting next year.
Inuwa explained that Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework rests on four strategic pillars: governance, capacity building, incident management, and collaboration.
Under governance, he said, the amended Cybercrime Act and a Presidential Executive Order now classify critical digital infrastructure as part of Nigeria’s national assets, strengthening accountability and protection.
For incident management, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), now leads coordinated national responses to cyber threats, alongside sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in finance, communications, and law enforcement.
He noted that cybersecurity cannot be achieved in isolation and that Nigeria is deepening collaboration with the African Union, Smart Africa Alliance, international CERTs, and major global technology companies to strengthen collective digital defense mechanisms.
In partnership with the ONSA, NITDA is also developing a National Cybersecurity Architecture to ensure information sharing, unified response, and national accountability.
Inuwa urged Nigerians to adopt simple but powerful cyber hygiene practices such as using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious activities promptly. “Every Nigerian must see cybersecurity as a shared responsibility. Our collective vigilance is the strongest firewall we can build,” he concluded.
By positioning AI, infrastructure, and human development at the heart of its cybersecurity strategy, Nigeria is signalling a decisive shift from digital dependence to digital sovereignty, and from vulnerability to vigilance.
