Jimson Olufuye, a cybersecurity and ICT expert, has called for the structural organisation of cybersecurity roles across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to address Nigeria’s severe shortage of professionals in the sector.

In an interview on Thursday in Abuja, Mr Olufuye said the move would help close the country’s 90.6 per cent cybersecurity workforce gap.

His comments followed revelations at the National Cybersecurity Conference that Nigeria required more than 270,000 cybersecurity professionals, while only 25,620 were currently available for a population exceeding 200 million.

At the event, Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), cited the 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study.

“The study revealed that Nigeria currently has one cybersecurity professional per 8,600 people, far below the global standard of one to 794.

“To tackle the job deficit, we must create structured roles. Every government office should have a cybersecurity unit and officers in place. When demand is created, supply will follow,” Mr Olufuye said.

He advocated for the establishment of Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) within MDAs and public offices, alongside the institutionalisation of roles such as chief information security officer and cybersecurity risk analyst.

He stated that legal frameworks and dedicated funding would foster employment and enhance national cyber resilience.

Mr Olufuye added that a clear structure would also provide a platform to measure cyber risks and develop strategies for managing them effectively.

Commenting on the rise of internet fraud (“Yahoo-Yahoo”), he noted that many young people involved in such schemes possessed technical skills and might shift to legitimate cybersecurity careers if proper opportunities were made available.

“If the job functions are created and openly advertised, many of these youths will retrain and apply. They just need supervision and direction to use their skills productively,” he said.

He urged the federal government to take the lead by implementing reforms in public institutions, which could then serve as a model for the private sector and other organisations.

A recent review of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) revealed an alarming increase in cyberattacks on public service platforms.

It also found that many MDAs still lack dedicated cybersecurity personnel and response plans, relying instead on third-party consultants for emergency interventions.

(NAN)