The Nigerian Communications Commission is developing a cybersecurity framework to counter the growing threats of attacks in the communication landscape.

The commission noted that growing technology advancements have increased threats from cyber actors in a cybersecurity framework development regulation meeting.

In the first quarter of 2025, Nigerian organisations experienced 4,388 attacks weekly, according to Check Point Software. This represented a 47 per cent increase year-on-year. The cybersecurity platform noted that the country?s telecoms sector recorded 2,664 attacks each week.

This spike highlights the growing challenge businesses face in a constantly evolving threat landscape. According to Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman, NCC, as the country expands digital access, it must get proactive in securing its digital infrastructure.

?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, which forms the core of Nigeria?s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), remains a high-value target for cybercriminals and hostile actors,? Maida said.

He emphasised that the development of the framework is essential in a regulatory environment where cybersecurity is no longer optional but a compliance necessity.

Maida cited relevant laws and policies that will guide the framework, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended), the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021, and Nigeria?s commitments under global instruments such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Agenda.

?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. Through this framework, we seek to define minimum cybersecurity expectations for all operators while also providing clear guidance on incident reporting, risk management, information sharing, and inter-agency collaboration,? he added.

Abraham Oshadami, the executive commissioner, Technical Services NCC, noted that once finalised, the framework will enhance the resilience of telecom infrastructure against cyber threats and safeguard consumer data, privacy, and trust.

He said the new policy will align with both the NCPS 2021 and international best practices.

Lead consultant on the project, Kazeem Durodoye, added that the framework would be designed to be forward-looking, considering the cybersecurity risks posed by emerging technologies such as 6G, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.

The NCC?s move to develop a sector-specific cybersecurity framework aligns with the recent classification of the telecoms sector as a critical national asset, underlining the need to secure the infrastructure that backbones the country?s digital economy. (BusinessDay)

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