Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity Policies to Protect Citizens’ Digital Privacy Rights
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Federal Government is intensifying efforts to strengthen cybersecurity policies and safeguard citizens’ privacy in the country’s rapidly expanding digital space, officials say.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Ayodele Bakare says Nigeria is reinforcing legal and regulatory structures designed to protect digital infrastructure and users.
Bakare, an assistant director in NITDA’s Cybersecurity Department, made the disclosure during an interview in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, Nigeria’s cybersecurity system relies on coordinated action by several government institutions responsible for different aspects of digital safety.
The Office of the National Security Adviser leads national coordination through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, which functions as the operational hub for responding to cyber threats across the country.
“One of the major frameworks guiding Nigeria’s cyber defence efforts is the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy,” Bakare says.
He adds that the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015 — amended in 2024 — provides the legal basis for prosecuting cyber offences and strengthening online security.
NITDA has also introduced sector-specific regulations to improve digital trust and secure electronic transactions. Among them is the National Public Key Infrastructure Regulation, which supports secure communication and digital authentication systems.
Bakare notes that the agency helped establish Nigeria’s modern data protection system through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019.
The framework later led to the creation of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, which now enforces data protection compliance nationwide.
Bakare says a new Information Security Regulation is nearing completion and will outline responsibilities for organisations and individuals handling sensitive digital information.
He emphasises that collaboration among government agencies, businesses and civil society remains critical to strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity resilience.
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