• Nigeria’s NITDA signed a cybersecurity MoU with Kaspersky at GITEX 2025 to boost training, awareness and threat intel.

• Cybercrime costs Nigeria about $500m annually, with ransomware and data breaches driving the push for stronger defenses.

• Kaspersky denies Russian ties, citing transparency moves, but Western bans mean Nigeria must balance benefits with global scrutiny.

Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed a significant cybersecurity memorandum of understanding with Kaspersky. The agreement, formalized on September 3, 2025, at GITEX Nigeria in Lagos, commits the global cybersecurity firm to support Nigeria through training and capacity building, awareness campaigns, threat intelligence sharing, and advisory input for protecting critical information infrastructure. The MoU was signed by NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and Kaspersky’s Africa General Manager, Chris Norton.

The deal comes against a backdrop of growing cyber threats in Nigeria. The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) estimates the country loses approximately US $500 million annually to cybercrime. According to a november 2024 report by Check Point Software Technologies, a cybersecurity platform provider, Nigeria has recently faced 4,718 weekly attacks as from january to july 2024. National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said in an august 2025 release, that Nigeria loses over $500 million (about N250 billion) yearly to cybercrime, a figure that includes social media-related fraud.

Kaspersky has previously faced regulatory bans and advisories in the United States and parts of Europe. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned its products from federal networks in 2017, and in June 2024, the Department of Commerce prohibited its sales and software updates in the U.S. Several European countries—including Germany, Lithuania, and the Netherlands—have similarly restricted its use in government systems.

In response to these concerns, Kaspersky has denied any improper ties to Russian intelligence. The firm has implemented a “Global Transparency Initiative”—relocating data processing infrastructure for foreign users to Switzerland and establishing transparency centers to allow independent review of its source code.

Execution remains the biggest domestic challenge. Across Africa, similar cybersecurity agreements have faltered due to limited budgets, bureaucratic delays, and weak accountability. Without clear timelines, metrics, and sustained funding, the MoU risks underperformance.

Moreover, Nigeria will need to manage external perceptions carefully. The U.S. and European restrictions on Kaspersky reflect broader concerns about Russian-linked technology compromising security. As Nigeria deepens its cybersecurity collaboration with Western partners—such as through training and cybercrime investigations—it must ensure that this new partnership doesn't jeopardize existing cooperative frameworks.

Nevertheless, the agreement underscores Nigeria’s urgency in reinforcing its digital infrastructure. With cyberattacks costing hundreds of millions annually, investment in skills, awareness, and system resilience offers a strategic response.

Hikmatu Bilali