The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has warned that rising cyber threats are tracking the rapid expansion of the global digital economy.
Olatunji said cyberattacks now occur every 39 seconds globally, stressing that the scale of digital threats has made data protection, cybersecurity readiness and responsible technology governance urgent priorities for governments, businesses and individuals.
He gave the warning while speaking at the IoT West Africa 2026 Conference in Lagos, where he linked the growth of internet-connected devices, mobile platforms, digital payments, artificial intelligence and cloud services to increasing exposure to cyber risks.
According to him, the global economy is becoming more dependent on digital infrastructure, but the same transformation has widened the attack surface for cybercriminals.
He said the growing volume of personal data being processed across digital platforms requires stronger compliance with data protection laws, better security safeguards and more investment in cyber resilience.
Olatunji noted that cybercrime is no longer limited to large corporations or government institutions, as individuals, small businesses and public agencies are increasingly exposed to phishing, ransomware, identity theft, online fraud and unauthorised access to personal information.
He said Nigeria must strengthen its data governance systems as the country’s digital economy expands, adding that trust remains central to the adoption of digital services.
The NDPC boss said organisations handling personal data must treat privacy and cybersecurity as boardroom issues rather than routine technical concerns.
He urged data controllers and processors to comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, ensure proper consent management, conduct data protection impact assessments where required, and secure personal information against misuse, leakage and unauthorised disclosure.
Olatunji also called for stronger collaboration among regulators, technology companies, public institutions, financial service providers, telecom operators and cybersecurity professionals.
He said such cooperation was necessary to protect citizens, sustain investor confidence and support Nigeria’s ambition to build a trusted digital economy.
The 39-second cyberattack figure has been widely used in global cybersecurity reporting and is commonly linked to research showing that internet-connected systems face constant automated attacks. More recent industry estimates suggest that the frequency of attacks may be even higher, reflecting the growing sophistication and scale of cyber threats.
Olatunji said the NDPC would continue to promote compliance, awareness and accountability in data processing across sectors, while supporting measures that place privacy and security at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He said the future of the digital economy would depend not only on innovation, but also on the level of trust users have in the systems that collect, store and process their data.
