The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially launched National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 under the theme “Together for a Safer Cyberspace.”
The month-long campaign calls for shared responsibility for digital safety, with NITDA stressing that cybersecurity is no longer solely the responsibility of IT professionals, government agencies or security experts. Citizens, businesses and institutions all have a role to play in maintaining a secure digital environment.
NITDA warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence and automated systems is contributing to more sophisticated cyber threats. These include AI-driven social engineering, deepfake impersonation, voice cloning and fraudulent QR code attacks, commonly known as “quishing.”
The agency urged Nigerians to strengthen their cyber hygiene by using strong and unique passwords, storing them securely with password managers and enabling multi-factor authentication across personal, professional and financial accounts.
NITDA also advised users to install security patches and system updates promptly and never share one-time passwords, PINs or online banking login details.
The agency cautioned against uploading sensitive personal, financial or corporate information to public AI models or unfamiliar online platforms. Users were also encouraged to verify links and media before interacting with them and remain cautious of suspicious attachments, unsolicited requests and messages using urgency, synthetic audio or deepfake visuals.
NITDA further highlighted the risks associated with oversharing on public social media, which can provide information that attackers may use for targeted social engineering. It recommended maintaining important personal and organisational data backups both offline and in the cloud to support recovery from ransomware and other disruptions.
Through its computer emergency response structure, NITDA said it remains committed to providing citizens and organisations with the tools, knowledge and frameworks needed to reduce digital risks, report incidents and support a secure and inclusive digital economy.
