Nigeria Faces 4,200 Weekly Cyber Attacks as Digital Economy Expands, Tijani Warns

Nigeria Faces 4,200 Weekly Cyber Attacks as Digital Economy Expands, Tijani Warns

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

Nigeria is facing an average of 4,200 cyber attacks every week, a trend authorities say is closely linked to the country’s fast-growing digital economy and rising online activity.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this in Abuja during the maiden stakeholder session on the proposed Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination.

The forum is part of efforts to build a coordinated national response to cyber threats by bringing together government institutions, private sector operators and industry experts.

Tijani said Nigeria’s rapid digital transformation marked by increased internet penetration, mobile connectivity and digital transactions has made the country a more attractive target for cybercriminals.

“The stronger your digital economy becomes, the more cyber attacks you’re going to witness. We must therefore focus on building coordinated resilience rather than reacting in isolation,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria now has over 160 million internet users and about 157 million mobile lines, alongside growing broadband penetration and 4G coverage, developments he described as significant but not without risks.

According to the minister, ongoing investments in digital infrastructure, including a nationwide fibre network and expansion of telecommunications towers, will further deepen connectivity but also broaden exposure to cyber threats.

He explained that the proposed advisory council would serve as a platform for joint risk assessment, intelligence sharing and policy alignment across sectors.

“This is not about government alone. Cybersecurity cannot be addressed in silos. It requires collaboration across all stakeholders,” Tijani added.

He said the council would be shaped through multiple stakeholder engagements before its formal inauguration, urging participants to contribute ideas that would strengthen national cyber resilience.

The development comes amid growing concerns about cyber insecurity in Nigeria and follows a recent collaboration between the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria to enhance consumer protection and tackle electronic fraud across the telecom and financial sectors.

In his remarks, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, said the rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the nature of cyber threats.

“Cybersecurity in the age of AI is a different animal. The attack today could be on AI or by AI,” he said, noting that tools such as AI-driven malware, automated ransomware and zero-click phishing are becoming harder to detect.

He warned that Nigeria’s interconnected digital systems make it vulnerable to chain reactions when breaches occur, stressing that a single compromised system could expose multiple sectors.

“We are as strong as our weakest link. If one system is compromised, it can be used to attack others,” he said.

Inuwa called for a shift from reactive responses to proactive, intelligence-led security strategies capable of anticipating and neutralising threats before they escalate.

He also highlighted the role of human behaviour in cyber incidents, noting that poor digital awareness remains a major vulnerability.

“Efforts must be intensified to improve digital literacy and awareness among citizens to reduce exposure to attacks,” he said.

Industry observers say the move to establish a cybersecurity advisory council reflects growing recognition of the need for a coordinated, whole-of-society approach as Nigeria deepens its digital economy.