The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Kaspersky Global have inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to fortify Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
- The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Kaspersky Global have inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to fortify...
- Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA, and Mr.
- In keeping with Nigeria’s priority of bolstering national security for peace and prosperity, Kaspersky will also offer strategic advisory input...
- Surfshark’s research used data collected from 29,000 publicly accessible databases.
Keep reading for the full breakdown on cyberattacks — everything you need to know is covered below.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA, and Mr. Chris Norton, General Manager, Africa at Kaspersky, represented both parties in formalising the agreement during GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos.
Through this partnership, Kaspersky will work with NITDA on public awareness campaigns, such as its Cybersecurity Alphabet initiative, support training programs to increase local cyber capacity, and conduct joint research and analysis to improve cyber defence literacy nationwide.
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Intelligence sharing on cyberattacks and threats
Additionally, the MoU allows intelligence sharing on attacks and threats that impact the Nigerian government, citizens, and digital infrastructure.
In keeping with Nigeria’s priority of bolstering national security for peace and prosperity, Kaspersky will also offer strategic advisory input to help NITDA create robust frameworks and standards for safeguarding the country’s vital information infrastructure.
This partnership, which combines international experience with domestic determination to safeguard Nigeria’s digital future, represents a significant turning point in the country’s journey toward digital resilience.
Nigeria’s cybersecurity situation
As of July 2025, cybercrime significantly impacts Nigeria, with over 4,700 weekly attacks and over $500 million (about N250 billion) in yearly losses. The ITU Global Cybersecurity Index places the nation in Tier 3, indicating progress but notable gaps compared to regional leaders. The country faces increased ransomware and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks.
According to the most recent global data breach report from cybersecurity company Surfshark, Nigeria experienced more than 119,000 data breaches in the first quarter of 2025.
Surfshark’s research used data collected from 29,000 publicly accessible databases. According to Surfshark’s long-term data, Nigeria ranks among the most impacted nations in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of data breaches. The study further stated that ten out of every 100 Nigerians have experienced data breaches.
According to additional analysis, Nigeria’s leaked accounts decreased by 85 per cent between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. This is consistent with a global trend of leaked accounts falling by 93 per cent year over year, from 973.7 million in Q1 2024 to just 68.3 million in Q1 2025.
Even though the Nigerian figure might seem concerning, it shows a significant drop in breach activity compared to prior quarters.
Regarding the quantity of compromised accounts, Nigeria is ranked 34th globally.
The report estimated that 23.2 million Nigerian user accounts, including 7.3 million unique email addresses and 13 million passwords, have been compromised since 2004.
It further stated, “56 per cent of users whose accounts were compromised are at risk of identity theft, extortion, or unauthorised account access.”
Challenges and positive developments
Despite advancements, implementing well-established cybersecurity frameworks and perceiving the nation’s security posture remain significant obstacles.
The lack of talent, as many professionals are leaving the nation, and the need for increased public awareness of scams and cyber hygiene are among the difficulties faced by the country in combating the menace.
Despite these challenges, organisations increasingly use AI-powered solutions to improve cybersecurity resilience, automate incident responses, and detect threats.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) of 2023 has improved data protection by establishing the independent Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and conforming to international standards.