NITDA boss calls for stronger global cybersecurity cooperation at WEF

Nigeria, represented by the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for stronger global cooperation in cybersecurity to tackle what he described as deepening vulnerabilities in the global cyberspace.

Speaking at a high-level cybersecurity session at the World Economic Forum, Inuwa stressed the growing gap between well-fortified institutions and those exposed to high-level and sophisticated cyber threats.

In the WEF session themed ” The forgotten frontline of Cyber,” Inuwa explained that bad actors pose a collective threat to the global system regardless of individual security setups. He stated that Global digital stability is only as strong as its weakest link, and bridging this divide is a prerequisite for true collective resilience.

The NITDA boss brought his assertions home, outlining efforts by the Nigerian government to stay on top of its cybersecurity situation. Key efforts by the Nigerian government to strengthen cybersecurity in the country include legal and institutional reforms anchored by the Cybercrimes Act and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy. These initiatives were put in place to mitigate bad actors and various strains of cyber threats and operations.

Nigeria, represented by the NITDA boss, seized the global forum to call for stronger collaboration. These are especially in areas of cross-border cooperation and sharing of threat intelligence. According to Inuwa, this will go a long way to reduce cyber threats across jurisdictions.

Nigeria’s Cybersecurity Situation at the Moment

Nigeria’s cyberspace is marked by a single phenomenon. A fast-growing digital landscape accompanied by a poorly prepared security architecture. In plain terms, Nigeria’s digital landscape is growing so fast that its accompanying security structure can barely keep up.

Nigeria reportedly records over 4,000 cyberattacks weekly, with financial losses estimated at N12 billion in 2024 alone. In the first quarter of 2026, Nigeria recorded 281,500 compromised user accounts, ranking 34th among the world’s most breached countries. Annual losses to Cybercrime exceed $500 million.

Nigerian agencies like the Nigeria Data Protection Commission have introduced stricter compliance obligations. The Lagos state government also released a new Cybersecurity Guidelines in April 2026. Despite efforts, the cybersecurity space still suffers from a shortage of experts and battle-tested systems. This has led major institutions to outsource their security to foreign bodies.

Nigeria’s outing at the World Economic Forum seeks to reignite the conversation on how best to upgrade global security systems and make the argument that a weak security system anywhere is a threat to the collective global digital landscape.

The Muhammadu Buhari administration appointed Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as the NITDA Director General in 2019. He succeeded Prof Isa Ali Pantami, who was made the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

Last updated: May 11, 2026