Strengthening Nigeria’s Response to Cybercrime

Policy Recommendations for a Safer Digital Economy

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture in its digital evolution. As the nation’s digital economy expands, valued at over $13 billion in 2022, it faces mounting challenges from cybercrime that threaten both its economic growth and international standing.

This policy paper examines the complex intersection of Nigeria’s digital transformation, cybersecurity challenges, and institutional responses, while proposing actionable solutions to combat the rising tide of cyber threats.

The scale of cybercrime in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions, with annual losses exceeding $800 million. Beyond immediate financial impacts, these activities severely damage Nigeria’s global reputation and impede legitimate businesses’ access to international markets.

Traditional “419” scams have evolved into sophisticated digital operations, while new forms of cybercrime continue to emerge, exploiting the country’s growing internet penetration and relatively low mobile data costs.

This challenge is compounded by significant structural factors, including a youth unemployment rate of 55.4% and inadequate legislative frameworks.

The current Cybercrimes Act of 2015, while foundational, has proven insufficient in addressing contemporary cyber threats such as cryptocurrency fraud and cyberterrorism. Furthermore, enforcement agencies suffer from fragmented coordination and resource constraints, limiting their effectiveness in combating cybercrime.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s cybercrime landscape and proposes targeted policy interventions focused on four key areas: legislative reform, inter-agency coordination, infrastructure development, and public awareness.

By implementing these recommendations, Nigeria can better protect its digital economy while fostering sustainable growth and international trust in its digital ecosystem.

Download the report here