Abuja: Nigerian organisations experienced 4,388 cyber-attacks per week in the first quarter of 2025, the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said. Fagbemi disclosed this at the Annual Cybercrimes Awareness Campaign and the second National Consultation on the Cybercrimes Legal Framework in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the campaign was titled ‘Towards a Coordinated and Informed National Response to Cybercrime’. Fagbemi stated that these cyber-attacks represent a 47 percent increase, ranking Nigeria fifth globally in cybercrime and costing about 500 million dollars each year. He emphasized that the same networks that empower lives are now being used by criminals employing artificial intelligence and sophisticated tactics to deceive and disrupt.
Fagbemi further noted the importance of the theme of the campaign, describing it as a national imperative. He stressed that the digital domain has become a new battlefield affecting economic survival, public trust, and national security. He also called on Nigeria to not stand as a passive observer in what he described as a ‘war without borders,’ urging for strategic, coordinated, and relentless action.
INTERPOL’s 2023 Africa Cybercrime Assessment ranked Nigeria among the top ten countries targeted by business email compromise, online fraud, and sextortion. These crimes, according to the Minister, erode public confidence, deter investment, and threaten the digital foundations important for future prosperity. As Nigeria positions itself as Africa’s digital hub, Fagbemi emphasized that addressing cybercrime is not merely a criminal justice issue but an existential development challenge.
Fagbemi highlighted Nigeria’s evolving response to cyberattacks, noting the development of twin bills focused on cybercrime as a criminal justice instrument and cybersecurity governance and critical infrastructure protection. These bills aim to establish a robust, modern legal framework aligned with global best practices, including the Budapest Convention and the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime (2024).
The Minister called for institutional coordination and partnerships, stressing that tackling cybercrime is a challenge that cannot be outsourced or postponed. He assured that the ministry would continue to drive reform, coordination, and accountability across the justice sector to ensure that legal tools align with the complexities of the digital age.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, also urged all stakeholders to build momentum in the fight against cybercrime, emphasizing that all institutions and sectors must work collaboratively. She noted the increase in online fraud, identity theft, hacking incidents, and other cyber-enabled crimes threatening national security.
NAN reports that the event was attended by representatives from the National Assembly, Law Enforcement Agencies, Regulators, the Judiciary, and UNODC.
