NITDA and CAC Activate Joint Cybersecurity Defenses Following Threats to National Digital Infrastructure

NITDA and the CAC have launched a coordinated cybersecurity response to protect government systems and MDAs from emerging digital threats in Nigeria.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 3:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Coordinated Response to Emerging Digital Threats

Nigeria’s primary technology and corporate regulatory bodies have moved to a heightened security posture following concerns regarding the integrity of government digital platforms. According to a statement released on Friday by Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications at NITDA, the agency has partnered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to activate comprehensive cybersecurity measures. The intervention follows reports of attempted breaches affecting aspects of the CAC’s digital systems, prompting a nationwide directive for public sector institutions to secure their networks.

Mandatory Security Audits for Government Agencies

In response to the detected vulnerabilities, the federal government has issued a strict set of directives to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). According to NITDA, MDAs are now required to conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify and remediate potential weak points in their digital infrastructure. This mandate includes a full review of existing cybersecurity architecture to ensure compliance with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.

Strengthening Access Controls and Data Protection

A significant portion of the new security framework focuses on the internal protocols used by government staff and contractors. According to the official directive, institutions must reinforce their access control mechanisms across all critical platforms to prevent unauthorized entry and potential data exfiltration. Furthermore, agencies are tasked with enhancing their data protection measures, including the maintenance of effective backup systems and disaster recovery plans to ensure service continuity in the event of a successful attack.