To secure Nigeria’s fast-growing telecom sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission has unveiled a national cybersecurity framework aimed at shielding digital infrastructure from rising cyber threats.
The new framework will enforce data protection, promote industry-wide resilience, and align Nigeria with global standards, marking a bold step in safeguarding national digital assets.
To protect Nigeria’s growing telecommunications sector from growing digital threats, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced the creation of a national cybersecurity framework. This is a big step forward for the country.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, talked about the plan at a regulatory stakeholder session in Lagos. Abraham Oshadami, the Executive Commissioner of Technical Services, represented him.
This progress has also made digital infrastructure more vulnerable to cyberattacks, though. Government institutions and important networks, in particular, have become targets of very advanced cybercriminal activities.
Why the framework is important
Dr. Maida said that the commission is taking steps to make sure that cybersecurity is unified, flexible, and ready for the future. The new framework is meant to protect telecom infrastructure, strengthen subscriber data privacy, and bring Nigeria’s practices in line with international standards and the National Cybersecurity Policy. Some of the core goals of the framework include
- Building resilience across telecom operators and networks
- Promoting consistent incident reporting and data sharing
- Instituting baseline cybersecurity requirements for telcos
Drawing from a report by the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Maida pointed out that a 10% increase in cybersecurity readiness could significantly boost Africa’s GDP per capita, emphasizing that cybersecurity isn’t just a technical necessity but a developmental one.
Compliance and stakeholder engagement
The framework will incorporate key legal instruments such as the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 and the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023, both of which mandate heightened cyber defenses for critical sectors like telecommunications.
Abraham Oshadami claims that in order to make sure the framework is practical, significant, and enforceable, the commission is actively involving industry participants.
“Cybersecurity is no longer an option; it’s a regulatory imperative,” he noted.
Specific needs for operators
The framework will put telecom companies into different levels based on how much data they handle and how important their services are. This tiered system makes sure that businesses that do more sensitive work will follow stricter cybersecurity rules.
Dr. Kazeem Durodoye, CEO of Cybernovr and a technical consultant, spoke at the event and stressed the need to combine new technologies like Open RAN, network virtualization, quantum cryptography, and AI-enhanced threat detection. He said that these are changing the way we think about cyber risk models and that they need to be taken into account in future regulatory frameworks.
Next steps and industry review
Babagana Digima, chairman of the NCC Committee on the Cybersecurity Framework, stated that the next phase would include a comprehensive baseline audit of the telecom industry to identify existing vulnerabilities. The results will assist make the approach fit better with real-world situations before it is fully put into action.
He also confirmed that the draft framework would be made available for industry feedback in the coming weeks, ensuring the initiative is developed in full collaboration with operators, cybersecurity experts, and stakeholders.
With this initiative, the NCC is positioning Nigeria to not only safeguard its digital infrastructure but also to lead in telecom cybersecurity standards across Africa. The commission remains committed to fostering a secure, resilient, and innovation-friendly digital ecosystem for all Nigerians.
