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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s cyber defence architecture ahead of the 2027 general elections, as part of measures to protect critical national infrastructure and safeguard the country’s digital ecosystem from rising cyber threats.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a press conference marking the agency’s 20th anniversary.
He said Nigeria’s cybersecurity capabilities have been significantly strengthened to prevent cyber attacks and curb the activities of hackers, particularly during sensitive national periods such as elections and public protests.
According to him, government has observed recurring spikes in cyber intrusion attempts during election cycles, making it necessary to reinforce digital infrastructure and security systems across the country.
Prof. Adeyanju noted that the ongoing Nigeria Project BRIDGE, designed to deliver over 15,000 kilometres of additional fibre-optic infrastructure, remains central to the Federal Government’s strategy to expand connectivity and strengthen digital resilience.
He explained that the project will extend broadband access to underserved and unserved communities, deepen digital inclusion, and enhance government service delivery nationwide.
He added that 30 states are already benefiting from Galaxy Backbone’s fibre infrastructure deployment, with plans underway to extend coverage to the remaining states and local government areas in the shortest possible time.
According to him, the expanded fibre network and upgraded cybersecurity systems will improve Nigeria’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats targeting critical digital assets.
He further highlighted investments in secure data centre infrastructure, including Tier III and Tier IV certified facilities, which provide resilient environments for hosting mission-critical government applications and data.
Prof. Adeyanju also commended President Bola Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a driving force behind Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts.
He praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for driving key initiatives that are strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and fostering public–private collaboration.
He said the agency’s ongoing initiatives, including Project BRIDGE and the 1Government Cloud platform, are helping to reduce infrastructure duplication, improve efficiency, and support startups and SMEs across the country.
The Galaxy Backbone chief reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a secure and connected digital infrastructure capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term development goals. He said: “Nigeria’s cybersecurity capabilities have been significantly strengthened to prevent any form of cyber attacks against Nigeria and to checkmate the activities of hackers, especially as we prepare towards the 2027 general elections. “We have observed spikes in the activities of hackers and cyber crooks especially during elections and protests by civil society groups in the country, and this has informed the strengthening of our cyber defence architecture.
“Project BRIDGE is designed to provide over 15,000 kilometres of additional fibre-optic infrastructure, and it will further consolidate the Federal Government’s plan to extend coverage to underserved and unserved areas across Nigeria.
“Currently, 30 states of the federation are already enjoying the deployment of fibre infrastructure through Galaxy Backbone, and we are working to ensure that the remaining states and local government councils are covered within the shortest possible time.
“Behind every digital service lies connectivity, and connectivity remains one of the most powerful enablers of transformation.
“Twenty years ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria took a bold and visionary decision to establish an institution that would build and manage a shared digital infrastructure platform for government.
That vision has not only endured, it has evolved.”
