Follow Us on Google
By Chinenye Anuforo
Nigeria’s digital ecosystem is facing mounting pressure from cybercriminals, with over 4,000 attacks recorded weekly, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has disclosed.
The alarming figure highlights growing vulnerabilities in the nation’s fast-expanding digital economy, as businesses, government institutions, and individuals increasingly rely on technology-driven platforms.
Speaking at IoT West Africa 2026 in Lagos on Wednesday, Olatunji revealed that even the Commission itself is not spared, recording approximately 1,500 intrusion attempts on its systems within a single week.
“In Nigeria, we experience over 4,000 attacks per week. It may interest you to know that even at the NDPC, within one week, we record over 1,500 attempts on our networks,” he said.
While the country’s digital economy continues to grow, contributing more than $18.3 billion to the GDP, the rapid expansion is also increasing exposure to cyber risks. From fintech platforms and e-commerce to digital government services and cloud infrastructure, the country’s reliance on data-driven systems has deepened, making cybersecurity a critical concern.
Globally, the digital economy now contributes over $20 trillion, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of global GDP, underscoring the scale of both opportunity and risk.
Other News
Describing data as “the new oil,” Olatunji noted that global data generation has surged dramatically, increasing more than 90 times in the last 15 years, with about 4.2 billion terabytes now generated daily. He explained that this surge is driven by widespread mobile usage, video streaming, and the proliferation of connected devices, which now exceed 21 billion globally.
However, Nigeria’s control over its data remains limited. Olatunji disclosed that over 90 per cent of the country’s data is stored outside its borders, raising concerns about security, regulatory oversight, and national sovereignty.
“This raises concerns about security, cost, control, and regulatory enforcement. We must ensure that data generated within Nigeria is stored locally,” he said.
Despite existing frameworks such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), compliance remains a major challenge, particularly among data centre operators. Olatunji clarified that data storage constitutes data processing and must comply with data protection laws, dismissing claims by some operators that they are exempt.
“There is no escape from compliance,” he warned. He added that organisations that fail to comply risk sanctions, including fines of up to two per cent of their gross revenue, while chief executives could face prosecution.
With Nigeria’s data centre market projected to exceed $1 billion by 2031, stakeholders have been urged to strengthen both technical and organisational safeguards to protect sensitive data. Olatunji stressed that data privacy and protection are essential for building trust, ensuring national security, and enhancing global competitiveness.
“As the digital economy continues to expand, data protection must remain a top priority,” he said.
