The Federal Government has signalled plans to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture through the proposed establishment of a national coordination council, as regulators intensify efforts to improve data protection compliance across the digital ecosystem.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed the move in a statement outlining the government’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the private sector and other critical stakeholders.

According to him, the proposed Cybersecurity Coordination Council will serve as a central platform for aligning national efforts, enhancing threat response mechanisms and strengthening resilience across both public and private sector systems.

The initiative comes as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) continues its review of data protection compliance across industries, signalling a broader push to reinforce trust, accountability and regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

Tijani said the government’s approach is anchored on shared responsibility, stressing that effective cybersecurity cannot be achieved through isolated interventions.

“Cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility. Protecting Nigeria’s digital economy requires strong partnerships, trusted collaboration and collective vigilance across government, industry and civil society,” he said.

The minister added that sustained engagement among stakeholders will be critical to building a robust and adaptive security framework capable of responding to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Industry observers note that the proposed council, if implemented, could help address long-standing coordination gaps between regulatory agencies, private sector operators and security institutions, particularly as digital adoption accelerates across financial services, telecommunications and public sector platforms.

The move also aligns with global trends where governments are adopting more integrated, multi-stakeholder approaches to cybersecurity governance, recognising the interconnected nature of modern digital systems.

As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation agenda, analysts say strengthening cybersecurity coordination will be essential not only for protecting critical infrastructure but also for sustaining investor confidence and supporting long-term economic growth.