The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is developing a cybersecurity framework to address the rising threat of cyberattacks in the communications sector.
At a recent regulatory meeting, the NCC highlighted how technological advances have made Nigeria’s digital ecosystem more vulnerable. According to Check Point Software, Nigerian organisations faced 4,388 attacks per week in Q1 2025, a 47% year-on-year increase. The telecoms sector alone experienced 2,664 attacks weekly.
Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the NCC, stated, “With the increasing complexity of our digital ecosystem comes heightened vulnerability. Cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, and insider threats are evolving rapidly. Telecommunications infrastructure… remains a high-value target for cybercriminals and hostile actors.”
He added that cybersecurity is now “a compliance necessity,” and the framework will align with key legislation such as the Cybercrimes Act 2015, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.
“As a regulator, the NCC is committed to creating a balanced framework that not only ensures compliance but also supports innovation, business continuity, and trust in our digital economy,” Maida added.
The policy will also address threats from emerging technologies like 6G, AI, and machine learning, strengthening infrastructure resilience and consumer data protection, according to BusinessDay.