Sat Sep 14 08:15:58 UTC 2024: ## Nigeria Ranked Mid-Tier in Global Cybersecurity Index, Shows Room for Improvement

**ABUJA, NIGERIA** – Nigeria has been placed in the Tier-3 category of the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This ranking signifies that while Nigeria is making progress in combating cyber threats and building a secure digital environment, it still faces significant challenges.

The GCI evaluates countries based on five key areas: legal measures, technical capabilities, organizational capacity, capacity building, and cooperation. Nigeria achieved its highest score in legal measures, scoring 19.52 out of a possible 20.

Tier-3 countries are characterized by their efforts to improve their cybersecurity frameworks, despite facing notable gaps. While countries like Nigeria are expanding digital services and bringing people online, ensuring cybersecurity becomes a priority for meaningful connectivity remains a challenge.

The ITU report highlights the African region’s significant progress in cybersecurity since 2021, while acknowledging that Least Developed Countries (LDCs) still require assistance to catch up. The report also points to resource and capacity constraints for Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the need for continued efforts to combat cyber threats in today’s complex digital landscape. “Building trust in the digital world is paramount,” she stated.

The report raises concerns over rising cybersecurity threats, including ransomware attacks, data breaches, and privacy violations. The average cost of a data breach has increased by 15% in the last three years, with over 2,800 documented breaches in 2023 impacting eight billion records.

To address these threats, countries are implementing regulations on data protection, privacy, and breach notification to provide individuals with recourse and set clear standards for organizations managing data.

While Nigeria’s Tier-3 ranking reflects progress, it also underscores the need for continued investment and focus on cybersecurity to build a more resilient digital environment.

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