The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is finalizing a cybersecurity framework aimed at protecting digital infrastructure and strengthening online safety within Nigeria’s communications sector.
Expected to be implemented by telecom licensees in 2026, the framework will address security risks posed by emerging technologies, fostering a more secure digital economy.
Speaking at the second phase of stakeholder consultations in Abuja, following the initial meeting held earlier in the year, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, emphasized the urgency of a robust and adaptive strategy to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Previous Meeting Outcome: NCC Strengthens Cyber Defenses to Protect Critical Telecom Infrastructure
He noted that with digitalization accelerating and geopolitical tensions rising, threats now extend beyond traditional confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) concerns, directly impacting operational technology and even human safety.
“Both state and non-state actors are targeting essential sectors, including ours, through coordinated cyber and physical attacks. These attacks frequently target control systems and data integrity, underscoring the critical risks posed to operational technology (OT), especially in our sector.”
Oshadami stressed that the telecom sector’s role as the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy makes it both a strategic asset and a primary target for cyberattacks.
“As cyber threats evolve, they endanger not only system performance but also human safety, amplifying the severity and consequences of disruptions to vital communications infrastructure. Cybersecurity now encompasses human safety and must address the real risk to people’s lives when a system is attacked or compromised.”
He added that the updated framework, refined with stakeholder input, will guide the sector in addressing critical risks, safeguarding national infrastructure, and ensuring resilience against evolving cyber threats.
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