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Nigeria is actively strengthening its national cybersecurity policies in direct response to the growing threat posed by AI-powered cyberattacks. AI is transforming the scale and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting the country’s government, financial institutions, and private businesses, prompting a reevaluation of existing defences.
This policy shift is driven by a clear concern among security experts and officials that current cyber defences are becoming obsolete. They are seen as inadequate against new threats powered by automation, machine learning, and advanced data exploitation techniques, leaving critical systems vulnerable.
The urgency for action is underscored by rising financial losses from digital fraud, data breaches, and system intrusions. A 2025 report listed Nigeria as the primary target for cyberattacks in Africa. Attackers are now actively using AI tools to bypass traditional security measures, making these crimes more frequent and effective.
The core of the new national strategy will focus on imposing stricter, mandatory cybersecurity standards for vital sectors. Industries deemed essential, such as banking, telecommunications, energy, and public services, will face requirements to meet specific security benchmarks, invest in protective infrastructure, and undergo regular compliance audits.
Push to Stem AI-powered Cyberattacks Necessitated by Rapid Digital Expansion
This regulatory push coincides with Nigeria’s rapid digital expansion. While the growth of online banking, e-government, and cloud services has boosted economic efficiency, it has also significantly widened the attack surface, creating more opportunities for cybercriminals as digital adoption accelerates.
The nature of the threat itself is evolving. Security professionals emphasise that AI-driven attacks are fundamentally different, enabling automated, personalised phishing at scale, malware that adapts to evade detection, and the use of deepfakes for fraud and social engineering, posing novel challenges for defence systems.
The financial sector is already under intense pressure, making it a prime target of AI-powered cyberattacks. Banks and payment platforms are under constant attack from attempts to steal customer data, disrupt transactions, and undermine identity verification processes, resulting in direct economic harm.
Beyond financial crime, the government is deeply concerned about risks to national security and stability. The digitisation of critical infrastructure—such as power grids and state databases—means a major breach could disrupt essential services, erode public trust, and threaten the broader economy.
Finally, the response is creating a new ecosystem of accountability and adaptation. The planned regulations will place greater responsibility for cyber risk on corporate leadership while also spurring growth in Nigeria’s private cybersecurity sector. This trend mirrors a global push to modernise defences, underscoring the need for real-time, AI-powered security systems that can keep pace with the speed and adaptability of modern attackers.
