ICT stakeholders call for joint action to strengthen Nigeria’s digital security

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to build a secure and resilient digital ecosystem.

They made the call during the monthly DevsInGovernment programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Abuja.

Babagana Digima, head of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), stressed the need to embed security into the foundation of Nigeria’s digital development.

“We must embed security into the DNA of our digital services from the first line of code to the final user experience. We must upskill our workforce, institutionalise secure-by-design practices, and foster a culture of cyber awareness at every level of public service.

“Resilience is not the absence of attacks; it is the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover, and adapt,” he said.

Digima highlighted the Cyber Resilience Framework for Nigeria’s Communications Sector (CRF-NCS) developed by the NCC, noting that it focuses on key pillars such as governance and compliance, risk management, cybersecurity posture, incident response, resilience, and capacity building.

Speaking during a panel discussion, Sade Dada, head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa at Meta, said the company uses advanced technology and partnerships to detect, isolate, and remove harmful online content, including disinformation.

“We combine Artificial Intelligence (AI), user education, and collaboration with experts to strengthen our defence against digital threats,” Dada said. “Like the human immune system, our systems must constantly learn and adapt to emerging risks.”

She added that Meta continues to engage with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria to address new forms of cyber threats.

Also speaking, Abba Moukhtar, a Network and Cybersecurity Engineer at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said the agency promotes digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness through capacity building and skill development.

“At NITDA, we advance digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness through training, skill development, and partnerships with certified learning platforms,” he said.

The stakeholders emphasised that securing Nigeria’s digital future requires shared responsibility, continuous education, and joint action among government institutions, private organisations, and citizens.

The theme of the event was “Strengthening Cyber Resilience in the Public Sector: Awareness, Skills, and National Initiatives.”