Cybersecurity: Threat actors becoming more resourceful, sophisticated – NSA

The National Security Advisor (NSA) to the President, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said Nigerians must recognise that cybersecurity is a dynamic and constantly evolving field and that threat actors are becoming more sophisticated, more resourced, and more coordinated. He said: “The tools and tactics they employ, from artificial intelligence-driven attacks to supply chain infiltrations and […]

The National Security Advisor (NSA) to the President, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said Nigerians must recognise that cybersecurity is a dynamic and constantly evolving field and that threat actors are becoming more sophisticated, more resourced, and more coordinated.

He said: “The tools and tactics they employ, from artificial intelligence-driven attacks to supply chain infiltrations and persistent threats targeting national infrastructure, demand that our strategies remain agile and forward-looking.”

Ribadu who was represented by a director in his office, Prof. Abdullahi Yau, stated this on Wednesday at the 2025 Information Technology Professional Assembly in Abuja, with the theme, “National Cybersecurity Policy: Implementation and Effectiveness”

He noted that top priority of the Federal Government was to ensure that the nation’s most vital digital and physical assets are protected, monitored, and made resilient against emerging threats.

 

He said the current administration has evolved various policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture.

He underscored the importance of the gathering, saying there was the need to chart a forward-looking path that responds effectively to evolving global threats, aligns with international best practices and secures the nation’s digital future.

He commended the role being played by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) in keeping the nation secure, informed, and prepared.

He highlighted measures by the current administration to enhance national security and digital transformation, saying before the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many of the goals outlined in the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) had remained largely unfulfilled.

Ribadu said government would continue to strengthen its policy frameworks, deepen inter-agency collaboration, invest in talent development, and modernise the nation’s national cybersecurity infrastructure.

Speaking, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by a Deputy Director, Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Olie Frank, charged the management of the Council to ensure elimination of quackery in the IT industry, saying the the Ministry would continue to strengthen the CPN and assist it in carrying out the task of regulating, supervising and controlling the Information Technology profession in Nigeria.

The Minister noted that information technology is a critical sector and the flagship of other professions, adding that at the government circle, it is a profession that is taken seriously in the course of the nation’s aspiration for sustainable development.

Earlier, President and Chairman of Council of CPN, Kole Jagun, said this year’s event which is the 19th in series of Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly, would focus on issues aimed to safeguard Nigeria’s cyberspace from cyber threats, online fraud, fake news, and hate speech, while fostering international alliances and promoting local technology development.

“This gathering is more than just a meeting; it is an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. The rapid evolution of technology demands that we stay ahead—through continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and professional networking,” he stated