NITDA DG Raises Alarm Over AI-Driven Cyber Threats, Calls for Urgent National Action

NITDA DG Raises Alarm Over AI-Driven Cyber Threats, Calls for Urgent National Action

By Abbas Badmus,

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has raised concerns over the growing cybersecurity risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), calling for immediate and coordinated national action to address the emerging threats.

Inuwa made this known ahead of the planned inauguration of a proposed cybersecurity advisory council, noting that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is set to convene at least two additional stakeholder engagement sessions to ensure inclusivity and transparency in shaping the initiative.

He explained that the increasing integration of AI into everyday systems has significantly transformed the cybersecurity landscape, introducing more complex and unpredictable threats.

“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.

The NITDA boss highlighted the dual nature of emerging risks, noting that cyberattacks are now being executed both on AI systems and through AI technologies, thereby expanding the scope of vulnerabilities across digital ecosystems.

He further warned of the growing sophistication of AI-driven social engineering tactics, particularly the use of deepfake technology, which makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic and manipulated audio or video content.

“We are also witnessing increasingly sophisticated AI-driven social engineering. The emergence of deepfakes makes it difficult to distinguish between AI-generated content and authentic materials, even during virtual interactions,” Inuwa noted.

According to him, the complexity of these threats requires a unified response, stressing that no single entity can effectively tackle the challenge in isolation.

“This is the reality of the world we live in today. The only way forward is to strengthen collaboration and deepen synergy between governments and the private sector,” he added.

Inuwa emphasized that cybersecurity resilience depends on collective responsibility, warning that vulnerabilities within one organization could expose broader networks to significant risks.

“We are only as strong as our weakest link. If one entity is compromised, it creates risks for others within the network,” he stated, referencing recent incidents where breaches in financial institutions provided pathways into wider payment systems and government infrastructure.

He commended the Minister for initiating the cybersecurity advisory council, describing it as a critical platform for enhancing cooperation, facilitating intelligence sharing, and strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

The NITDA DG reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the council and working closely with stakeholders across sectors to bolster Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework against evolving AI-driven threats.