Nigeria to Establish National Cybersecurity Coordination Council to Strengthen Digital Defence
The initiative is expected to mark a major step toward a more coordinated and proactive cybersecurity governance structure in Nigeria, as digital threats continue to evolve across critical sectors.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish a National Cybersecurity Coordination Council as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s digital resilience and improve coordinated responses to cyber threats.
The initiative, led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, is designed as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder platform that will bring together government agencies, private sector operators, and cybersecurity professionals to enhance information sharing and collective defence against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
The proposed Council comes in response to recent cybersecurity incidents affecting services and private institutions across Nigeria. It is expected to promote stronger collaboration between key institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in order to improve national preparedness and response mechanisms.
According to the Ministry, the Council will include participation from Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), the Nigerian Computer Society, digital security experts, researchers, and law enforcement agencies. Its core responsibilities will include developing sector-wide cybersecurity protocols, strengthening workforce capacity, and improving incident response coordination.
A technical coordination secretariat for the Council will be established within the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with support from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone Limited, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The government also confirmed that formal stakeholder consultations will begin in April 2026, starting with a national cybersecurity industry roundtable to define the Council’s operational framework.
The initiative is expected to mark a major step toward a more coordinated and proactive cybersecurity governance structure in Nigeria, as digital threats continue to evolve across critical sectors.
