Tijani moves to unify Nigeria’s cyber defences with new advisory council

Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is set to convene a high-level stakeholder session on April 22, 2026, as part of plans to establish a Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination.

The move signals a stronger push by the federal government to bring structure and unity to Nigeria’s cyber defence efforts at a time when digital activities are growing rapidly across sectors.

According to Tijani, the planned council will serve as a central platform to improve collaboration, preparedness, and coordinated response to cyber threats. The goal is to build a safer and more trusted digital environment for citizens, businesses, and government institutions.

Nigeria’s digital economy has expanded significantly in recent years, driven by fintech growth, rising smartphone use, and increased internet access. Platforms for digital payments, e-commerce, and online public services have become part of everyday life. 

However, this growth has also made the country more vulnerable to cybercrime, including online fraud, identity theft, and attacks on critical systems.

Existing institutions such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have introduced regulations and guidelines to improve cybersecurity. Nigeria also operates a national Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) under the Office of the National Security Adviser. 

Despite these efforts, experts have often pointed to weak coordination among agencies and the private sector as a key gap.

Tijani’s proposed advisory council is expected to address this challenge by aligning policies, sharing threat intelligence, and strengthening incident response across sectors. It will also support Nigeria’s broader ambition to become a leading digital economy in Africa.

Since assuming office in 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tijani has focused on expanding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem. His ministry has championed initiatives around broadband expansion, startup support, artificial intelligence adoption, and digital skills development.

A key part of this agenda is building trust in the digital system. Without strong cybersecurity, experts warn that gains in fintech, e-government, and digital trade could be undermined by rising cyber risks.

Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) already identifies cybersecurity as a critical pillar. In addition, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act provides a legal framework to tackle online crimes. However, implementation and coordination remain ongoing challenges.

Globally, countries are increasingly adopting multi-stakeholder cybersecurity frameworks that bring together government, telecom operators, financial institutions, and tech companies. Nigeria’s planned advisory council follows this trend and could help position the country as a safer destination for digital investment.

Analysts say that if properly implemented, the council could improve resilience, reduce financial losses from cybercrime, and boost confidence among both local users and international investors.

With this initiative, Nigeria is taking another step toward securing its fast-growing digital economy and ensuring that innovation is backed by strong protection systems.