Rising cyber attacks driven by digital economy growth — Tijani

By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA — The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has said Nigeria’s rising wave of cyber attacks is a direct consequence of the country’s expanding digital economy.

Tijani stated this while delivering his keynote speech at a stakeholder consultation on the proposed Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination in Abuja on Wednesday, which marked the start of consultations aimed at shaping a national framework for coordinated cyber resilience.

The minister said Nigeria’s deepening connectivity and shift of services online are increasing exposure to cyber risks, noting that growth and vulnerability now move in tandem in the digital era.

He highlighted gains in the sector, including over 163 million internet users, 157 million mobile lines, and 84 per cent 4G coverage, while broadband penetration remains at about 45 per cent. He also outlined ongoing government investments, including a $2 billion fibre rollout covering 90,000 kilometres, the deployment of 3,700 telecom towers, and upgrades to national satellite systems.

He said, “The reality is that the world we live in today, it is nearly impossible to build a $1 trillion economy without ubiquitous connectivity, not just people being connected, but meaningful connectivity where people can do significant things.

“The stronger your digital economy gets, the more cyber attacks you are going to experience as a country. So most of what we are experiencing today is not by accident.”

Tijani called for a shift from reactive responses to a coordinated national cyber resilience framework anchored on collaboration between government and the private sector, stressing that effective cyber defence cannot rely on a militarised approach alone.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the proposed council would strengthen national preparedness in response to evolving threats driven by artificial intelligence.

He said, “Cybersecurity in the age of AI is changing the game and elevating the threat landscape. Therefore, we need to change the way we approach cybersecurity. It is not something government alone or the private sector alone can do.”

He warned that increased interconnectivity heightens systemic risk, adding that over 95 per cent of cyber incidents are caused by human error, making digital literacy a key defence layer.

Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Executive Director, Data Transformation and Technical Services, Olumbe Akinkugbe, said the agency would support the initiative through its role as the Federal Government’s shared ICT infrastructure provider.

He said Galaxy Backbone already operates a security operations centre managing digital services across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, positioning it as a central player in safeguarding public sector infrastructure.

“The reality is there must be collaboration. Various organisations are doing their own bit, but a lot of these efforts are working in silos. So people must speak to each other. It is the sum of all parts, not just one singular person,” he said.

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