Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a new cybersecurity framework aimed at curbing the growing wave of AI-driven cyberattacks targeting banks, businesses, and government agencies across the country. The framework is expected to be rolled out later this year as digital services continue to expand.
Okay News reports that the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed the plan while highlighting concerns that cybersecurity investment has not kept pace with Nigeria’s rapid digital transformation. He noted that many organisations still underestimate their exposure to cyber threats.
According to Abdullahi, the proposed cybersecurity framework will mandate minimum cybersecurity spending levels for organisations operating in Nigeria. It will also introduce compulsory timelines for reporting data breaches, structured information-sharing between public and private institutions, and coordinated response mechanisms for major cyber incidents linked to AI-driven cyberattacks.
The initiative follows a global shift toward stricter cybersecurity regulation as artificial intelligence makes cyberattacks more frequent, targeted, and difficult to detect. Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy, particularly within fintech and online payment platforms, has increased efficiency while also expanding the country’s cyber risk profile.
A 2025 Nigeria Cybercrime Assessment by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that Nigeria lost about ₦1.1 trillion to cybercrime between 2017 and 2023, affecting banks, telecom companies, and government agencies. The report warned that losses are expected to rise as cybercriminals increasingly exploit AI tools and cryptocurrencies.
Experts have also flagged Nigeria’s instant payment infrastructure as a growing vulnerability, noting that near-real-time transactions leave little room for fraud detection. Authorities say the new framework is designed to strengthen national cyber resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and restore confidence in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
