The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has said that Nigeria is taking decisive and strategic steps to secure its digital economy in an era increasingly defined by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has said that Nigeria is taking decisive and strategic steps to secure its digital economy in an era increasingly defined by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the Cyber Nigeria Summit organized by the Cybersecurity Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), Inuwa explained that the Federal Government’s approach focuses on cybersecurity governance, capacity building, incident management, and collaboration.
According to him, Nigeria’s digital economy, which contributes around 17% to GDP, has become central to national development. He warned, however, that as digital technologies expand, cybersecurity threats have grown more complex, especially with AI enhancing both innovation and cybercrime.
“Cybercrime now costs the world over 10 trillion dollars annually,” he said. “Our strategies must evolve beyond traditional protection mechanisms to defend our digital borders.”
Inuwa highlighted the government’s 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) initiative and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), which aim to bridge the 4.4 million global cybersecurity skills gap, including 140,000 roles in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC) has become fully operational under the Office of the National Security Adviser, coordinating nationwide incident responses through sector-specific CERTs.
On governance, Inuwa said that amendments to the Cybercrime Act and a Presidential Executive Order now classify critical digital infrastructure as part of Nigeria’s national assets, ensuring improved protection and accountability.
He stressed that collaboration remains the key to resilience.
“Cybersecurity cannot be managed in isolation,” he said. “Nigeria continues to work with international CERTs, the African Union, Smart Africa, and leading global technology firms to strengthen our collective defense posture.”
He urged Nigerians to adopt strong cyber hygiene practices, report attacks promptly, and support national efforts to secure cyberspace.