The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has signalled the Federal Government’s intention to work collaboratively with the private sector and key stakeholders toward the establishment of a Cybersecurity Coordination Council aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s collective cyber resilience and enhancing coordinated responses to evolving cyber threats across public and private sectors.

The proposed Council is envisioned as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder coordination platform, designed to convene key actors and strengthen partnerships that support efficient coordination, trusted information sharing, and sustained cooperation among institutions responsible for advancing Nigeria’s cybersecurity posture. The Council will also provide advisory support to the Federal Government on strategies, collaborative frameworks, and information-sharing mechanisms necessary to enhance national cyber resilience.

This initiative follows recent cybersecurity incidents that have posed significant risks to customers and disrupted operations across major private institutions, public systems, and Nigeria’s services industry. These incidents underscore the increasingly coordinated and sophisticated nature of cyber threats, driven by organised threat actors and malicious networks seeking to undermine trust in Nigeria’s growing digital ecosystem.

In response, the Federal Government will promote structured partnerships and strengthen cyber collaboration frameworks among government institutions, private-sector operators, industry associations, and regulatory bodies responsible for cybersecurity, in consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). This approach reflects the Government’s recognition that modern cyber threats demand collective defence models, trusted threat intelligence sharing, and multi-stakeholder coordination across sectors.

The proposed Cybersecurity Coordination Council is expected to draw participation from a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) across major sectors
• Recognised cybersecurity professional associations
• The Nigerian Computer Society
• Cybersecurity and trust teams of international technology providers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) operating in Nigeria
• Digital security researchers and technical experts
• Law enforcement agencies
• Civil society organisations
• Government ministries, departments, and agencies with responsibilities relating to cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and information governance

Through this collaborative engagement, stakeholders will work collectively toward the development of:

• Trusted threat intelligence sharing mechanisms to improve early detection and coordinated response to cyber incidents
• Sector-wide cyber defence and resilience protocols aligned with national cybersecurity strategies
• Capacity-building programmes to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity workforce and institutional resilience
• Operational coordination mechanisms to support incident response, recovery, and cyber risk management
• Where necessary, supporting governance and regulatory alignment frameworks to enhance accountability, interoperability, and national cyber readiness

To support the consultative process toward establishing the Council, the Honourable Minister has directed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone Limited and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to jointly facilitate the establishment of a technical coordination secretariat and to develop initial Terms of Reference (ToR) to guide stakeholder engagement and participation.

The secretariat will be domiciled within NITDA and will operate under the strategic coordination of the Minister’s Office to ensure alignment with national cybersecurity priorities and cross-sector collaboration objectives.

As part of this engagement process, the Ministry will convene a national cybersecurity industry roundtable in April 2026, which will serve as the formal commencement of stakeholder consultations and provide a platform for technical dialogue, partnership development, and co-creation of the operational framework for the proposed Council.

Speaking on the initiative, the Honourable Minister emphasised the importance of collective national action in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure:

“Cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility. Protecting Nigeria’s digital economy requires strong partnerships, trusted collaboration, and collective vigilance across government, industry, and civil society. Through collaborative action and sustained engagement, we are strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to detect threats early, respond effectively, and build a resilient and trusted digital ecosystem.”

The Minister further encouraged stakeholders across all sectors to actively participate in the consultative process and help shape a sustainable, partnership-led cybersecurity model capable of deterring cybercriminal activity and protecting citizens, businesses, and national digital infrastructure.

The Federal Government remains committed to strengthening cybersecurity governance, promoting responsible digital innovation, and safeguarding Nigeria’s digital future as the nation continues to expand its digital economy.