The Federal Government has signalled its 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 harness efforts by different bodies to create a formidable front for Nigeria’s cybersecurity pathway.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who announced this move on his X handle, had earlier encouraged cross-sector participation in the fight against cyber attacks, noting that stakeholders must help shape “a sustainable, partnership-led cybersecurity model capable of deterring cybercriminal activity and protecting citizens, businesses, and national digital infrastructure.”
In a related move, Nigeria’s data protection watchdog, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has announced that it is investigating alleged data breach involving Sterling Bank, Remita Payment Services Ltd., and other entities.
A statement signed by the Head, Legal, Enforcement & Regulations at NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, noted that the Commission, in line with its procedure, has served a Notice of Investigation to affected companies and individuals on the 1st of April, 2026, and they have been providing information for the purpose of addressing the incident.
The aim of the investigation, NDPC noted, is to ensure that data subjects are protected with appropriate technical and organisational measures. The investigation by NDPC covers, among others, the types of personal data involved, the nature and scope of the alleged breach, the risk to data subjects and the mitigation measures carried out where a breach is confirmed.
The Statement also disclosed that the Commission’s National Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has directed that organisations that employ digital payment systems without putting in place appropriate technical and organisational measures as mandated under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), will also be examined as part of a wider effort to ensure the integrity of the ecosystem.
