By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is advancing the development of a national cybersecurity framework designed to secure the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and safeguard consumers in the digital economy.
The framework, which is expected to be finalized by the third quarter of 2025 and implemented by telecom operators in early 2026, will address emerging security challenges posed by rapid technological innovation and growing cyber threats.
Speaking in Abuja at the second stakeholders’ meeting on the project, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, said the Commission is adopting a “water-tight approach” to counter the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks.
“With the rising digitalization of services and the exponential growth in data exchange, cyber threats have become more complex and dangerous. They no longer threaten only system performance but also human safety, raising the stakes for our critical communications infrastructure,” Oshadami said.
He noted that both state and non-state actors now target essential sectors through coordinated attacks on control systems and data integrity. This, he said, underscores the urgency of developing a robust and adaptive framework to protect operational technology (OT) and digital infrastructure.
According to Oshadami, the telecom sector’s central role in powering Nigeria’s digital economy makes it a strategic asset—and a prime target for cybercriminals. He added that the framework must reflect shared responsibility across stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in securing Nigeria’s digital future.
The project consultant, Dr. Kazeem Durodoye, CEO of CyberNover, presented updates on the refined framework, while Babagana Digima, NCC’s Head of Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, disclosed that the initiative is supported by the World Bank. He confirmed that implementation is expected to begin in 2026.
The Abuja forum provided a platform for regulators, telecom operators, and government agencies in the digital economy ecosystem to validate the draft framework, refine its design principles, and align on strategies for execution.
