The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on Nigerians, businesses and institutions to take greater responsibility for protecting themselves against emerging cyber threats as the country joins the global observance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026.
NITDA, in a statement signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director, Corporate Communications and issued on Thursday, October 1, 2026, said this year’s campaign, themed “Together for a Safer Cyberspace,” underscores the need for collective action in securing Nigeria’s increasingly digital society.
The agency said the growing dependence on digital technology for everyday activities, commerce and public governance had made cybersecurity a shared responsibility that could no longer be left solely to information technology professionals, government agencies and security experts.
According to NITDA, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and automated systems has also transformed the cyber threat landscape, with criminals deploying increasingly sophisticated methods to defraud and compromise individuals and organisations.
The agency identified AI-driven social engineering, deepfake impersonation, voice cloning and fraudulent QR code attacks, commonly known as “quishing”, among emerging threats requiring increased vigilance from internet users.
NITDA said building a resilient digital environment required active participation from everyone operating within the online ecosystem.
“Digital safety is no longer solely the responsibility of IT professionals, government agencies or security experts. Securing Nigeria’s digital landscape requires an active, shared commitment from every citizen, business and institution participating in the online ecosystem,” the statement reads partly.
The agency urged Nigerians to adopt basic cyber hygiene practices as the first line of defence against digital threats, stressing that individual vigilance remained critical in an environment where cybercriminals were increasingly exploiting emerging technologies.
It advised individuals and organisations to use strong and unique passwords for their accounts and consider secure password managers for generating and storing complex passphrases.
It also encouraged users to activate multi-factor authentication on personal, professional and financial accounts, describing the additional layer of security as an important measure against unauthorised access.
The agency further urged Nigerians to promptly install software updates and security patches, warning that outdated devices and applications could expose users to known vulnerabilities.
It cautioned members of the public against disclosing sensitive financial information, including One-Time Passwords (OTPs), personal identification numbers (PINs) and online banking credentials, irrespective of who requests them.
With the growing adoption of artificial intelligence tools, NITDA also advised users to exercise caution when interacting with public AI models and unfamiliar online platforms, particularly by avoiding the disclosure or uploading of sensitive personal, financial or proprietary corporate information.
The agency urged Nigerians to verify links, attachments and digital media before interacting with them, particularly where unsolicited requests are accompanied by a sense of urgency, synthetic audio or deepfake visuals.
It also advised social media users to limit the amount of sensitive personal information they make publicly available, noting that excessive online disclosure could provide material for targeted social engineering attacks.
NITDA further recommended regular offline and cloud backups of important personal and organisational data to facilitate recovery in cases of ransomware attacks or other system disruptions.
The agency said, through its computer emergency response structure, it remained committed to providing citizens and organisations with the knowledge, tools and frameworks required to identify and mitigate digital risks, report incidents and support the development of a secure and inclusive digital economy.
NITDA encouraged Nigerians to follow its official cybersecurity updates, awareness tips and threat advisories through its social media platforms, @NITDANigeria.
Cybersecurity incidents can also be reported to the Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team through CERRT.ng, its official reporting channels, including cerrt@nitda.gov.ng and +234 817 877 4580.