SECURING THE 2027 ELECTIONS
This requires a convergence of physical and cyber defences, argues KABIR ADAMU Securing Nigeria’s 2027 elections will require a convergence of physical and cybersecurity defences capable of mitigating threat elements to
Securing Nigeria's 2027 elections necessitates a comprehensive approach that combines both physical and cybersecurity measures, argues KABIR ADAMU. While physical security has traditionally been prioritized, the digital domain has now become equally crucial, and the two must be integrated for a mature level of security preparedness.
Current threat assessments indicate varying levels of physical and cyber threats, which, if left unaddressed, could impede the Independent National Electoral Commission's ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in January and February 2027.
Physical security challenges in Nigeria are multifaceted, encompassing terrorism, insurgency, banditry, gang violence, cultism, and armed ethnic militias. According to data from Beacon Security and Innovations Limited and the Armed Conflict and Event Location Data platform, an average of 700 people are killed and 500 abducted monthly in Nigeria, despite ongoing security operations against violent actors. This ongoing threat has significant humanitarian and development consequences for affected communities.
Nigeria's cyber landscape is fraught with institutional and structural challenges. Cyberattacks on organizations average 4,906 per week, nearly double the global average of 2,422, and have increased by 45% year-on-year. The country ranks second among African markets tracked for cyber threats, with an estimated $5 billion in direct economic damage from cybercrime in 2025.
This loss is primarily concentrated in payments, with banks and customers losing ₦52.26 billion in 2024 and ₦25.85 billion in 2025, bringing the cumulative total from 2020 to 2025 to ₦134.48 billion.
Critical digital infrastructure in Nigeria is increasingly targeted by state-aligned Advanced Persistent Threats. SideWinder, UNC2814/GRIDTIDE, and the UNC2814/GRIDTIDE campaign are among the threats that could compromise telecommunications backbones and other critical systems. The 2023 elections demonstrated the fragility of Nigeria's physical and digital borders, with a surge in cyber threats on public websites and portals during election day.
While physical election security has seen improvements, the cyber security function remains less mature compared to physical security measures despite the digitization of democratic infrastructure. A consolidated, holistic view of Nigeria's cyber posture is currently fragmented, with sector-specific assessments lacking a unified approach.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
