Plans to establish the Nigerian Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination (NG-MACC) are gathering momentum as stakeholders from government, academia, industry and the broader digital ecosystem convened in Lagos to discuss the proposed initiative.

The meeting, held at Four Points by Sheraton in Victoria Island, Lagos, was the second stakeholder engagement following the inaugural session in Abuja. Participants expressed support for the initiative while seeking clarification on key operational issues, including information-sharing mechanisms and the government’s strategy for addressing emerging threats from technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The proposed council was introduced by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, as a collaborative platform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture and building a more resilient digital economy amid rising cyber threats.

Representing the minister at the event, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, highlighted the growing cybersecurity challenges facing the country, revealing that Nigeria experiences a cyberattack approximately every 39 seconds.

“What we have experienced in the last three months at the NDPC is as if there is now a deliberate plan to attack government infrastructure,” he said.

Olatunji stressed that tackling cyber threats requires stronger cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, noting that cybersecurity cannot be addressed by government alone.

A presentation delivered on behalf of the minister outlined the proposed structure, membership and governance framework of the council. Stakeholders were briefed on plans to address coordination gaps, strengthen existing institutions, improve trust between public and private entities, enhance intelligence sharing and promote industry development.

Under the proposal, NG-MACC will be led by a 21-member Executive Council chaired by the minister, with a private-sector representative serving as co-chair. The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is expected to serve as secretary, alongside representatives from key government agencies and nominated stakeholders.

The proposed governance model places President Bola Tinubu at the apex, with the minister reporting directly to him. The Executive Council, supported by a Standing Committee and General Council, will oversee implementation, while NITDA will provide administrative support.

Priority areas identified for the council include developing a national cyber resilience framework, strengthening threat intelligence sharing, promoting cybersecurity industry growth, combating cybercrime and online harms, improving information security standards and protecting critical national infrastructure.

The next phase of the initiative will involve a 90-day implementation roadmap running from June to September 2026. Activities during the period will include the nomination and inauguration of council members, establishment of committees and the development of the council’s inaugural work plan.

According to Tijani, the council is critical to Nigeria’s digital future, as increasing digital adoption continues to expose public and private institutions to evolving cyber risks. He noted that collective action and coordinated leadership will be essential to safeguarding the nation’s digital economy and strengthening cyber resilience.