Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for urgent national action to combat the rapidly evolving cybersecurity risks fueled by artificial intelligence.
In anticipation of the council’s formal inauguration, Inuwa revealed that the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy will hold at least two more stakeholder engagement sessions. This collaborative approach mirrors the development of Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, prioritizing transparency and inclusivity.
Inuwa emphasized that AI has fundamentally shifted the digital landscape by introducing complexities that traditional security measures may not be equipped to handle. He identified two primary areas of concern, beginning with attacks on AI where vulnerabilities within the systems themselves are exploited. He also highlighted attacks through AI, which involve using AI technologies to automate and scale cyberattacks.
“AI is changing the game and elevating the threat landscape. The more we integrate AI into our lives, the more we need to change the way we look at cybersecurity,” he said.
A major highlight of the DG’s warning involved the rise of deepfake technology, where he noted that AI-generated audio and video have become so convincing that they are now being used to deceive participants during live virtual calls, making authentic content increasingly difficult to verify.
The NITDA boss stressed that cybersecurity is no longer a solo endeavor but a collective responsibility, pointing to recent breaches where financial institutions served as entry points to compromise broader payment systems and government infrastructure.
The new council aims to enhance cooperation by bridging the gap between government bodies and the private sector. It will also focus on information sharing by creating a pipeline for real-time threat intelligence. Additionally, the council seeks to build systemic resilience to ensure that one compromised entity does not collapse the entire national network.
Inuwa concluded by reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to the advisory council, labeling it a crucial platform for securing Nigeria’s digital future against the unpredictable nature of AI-driven threats.