The Federal Government has allocated ₦18.73 billion for cybersecurity efforts in the 2025 budget, spreading the funds across 17 government agencies, including some with no clear digital or cybersecurity roles.
The National Cybercrime Coordination Centre will receive the largest share with ₦9.26 billion, followed by police formations and commands with ₦4.37 billion, and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with ₦2.53 billion.
Other key recipients include the Department of State Services (DSS) with ₦1.16 billion, the Defence Space Administration with ₦399.7 million, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, which is allocated ₦188.5 million.
However, the budget also includes allocations to agencies whose core mandates are not directly related to cybersecurity. For instance, the Federal Cooperative College in Ibadan is set to receive ₦100.4 million, while the Nigeria Institute for Economic & Social Research (NISER) will get ₦65 million. The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning is also allocated ₦46 million.
Other listed beneficiaries include the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Federal Ministry of Youth Development, New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
The wide spread of the funds has sparked concerns among stakeholders about transparency and whether all benefiting agencies have the capacity or relevance to manage cybersecurity funds effectively.
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and frequent, Nigeria’s government appears focused on boosting its digital defence. But questions remain on how the funds will be used and monitored to ensure real impact.
