Nigeria’s cybersecurity industry is on the rise, and experts say the best is yet to come. The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has announced that the country’s cybersecurity market, currently valued at $207.80 million in 2024, is projected to grow to $345.43 million by 2029. This development reflects the nation’s shift toward a more digitally focused economy and shows how new technologies are shaping Nigeria’s future.
Abdullahi made the revelation at a joint press briefing with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and a private cybersecurity firm QNA in Abuja. He explained that the growth is linked to the rapid transformation happening within Nigeria’s digital economy. In 2024 alone, the digital economy contributed 17.68% to the national GDP, overtaking the oil and gas sector for the first time in the country’s history.
He added that Nigeria is gradually becoming Africa’s startup capital, following the rollout of 5G networks in major cities and the rise in broadband usage. The country now has more than 134 million broadband users, with internet penetration standing at 44.4%. According to him, this solid foundation is helping cybersecurity become a key pillar of Nigeria’s future economy.
To further drive digital innovation and secure Nigeria’s cyberspace, the federal government has launched various initiatives targeted at equipping young Nigerians with digital skills. One of the flagship programmes is the 3 Million Tech Talents (3MTT) Initiative, which aims to train three million Nigerians in different tech fields by 2027.
Launched under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the 3MTT programme is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and implemented by NITDA. The initiative focuses on developing core tech skills such as Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, UI/UX Design, and Game Development, among others.
Over 1.8 million applications had already been received from all 774 local government areas across the country as of May 2024. The programme uses both online and offline training models. It has over 120 training partners, including universities, tech hubs, and non-profit organisations. In partnership with IHS Nigeria, physical learning centres are being set up in all 36 states and the FCT to help young people learn together and collaborate on projects.
On infrastructure development, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched the National Broadband Alliance for Nigeria (NBAN). This policy is part of efforts to expand fast and reliable internet access to every part of Nigeria. The programme targets essential sectors such as schools, hospitals, markets, and religious centres to ensure no group is left behind. The aim is to increase broadband penetration from 44% in 2024 to 70% by the end of 2025.
According to the NCC, the initiative also plans to provide minimum data speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural communities, while also attracting a 300–500% increase in broadband investments by 2027. NBAN involves collaboration with state governments, telecom companies, infrastructure providers, and civil society groups to make sure the programme succeeds nationwide.
Telecom operators have played a huge role in expanding internet access. Latest figures from the NCC show that Nigeria’s broadband penetration climbed to 45.61% in January 2025. The country’s internet subscriber base grew by 1.88 million in October 2024, reaching a total of 134.78 million users. GSM operators accounted for the majority of the growth, with MTN Nigeria adding over 1.1 million new users to bring its total to 69.52 million. Airtel followed with more than 678,000 new users, while Globacom added nearly 185,000 users.
All these developments signal that Nigeria is on the right track toward becoming a digital powerhouse. With more young people getting skilled, better access to broadband, and increased focus on cybersecurity, Nigeria is taking solid steps toward ensuring a secure and thriving digital economy.
Industry experts believe that if these policies are sustained and digital education is expanded to reach more Nigerians, the country could become a leading tech hub not just in Africa but globally. The cybersecurity market will continue to play a major role in protecting national digital assets, supporting businesses, and enabling safe digital transactions across sectors.
