Lagos plans cybersecurity centre to protect data of 15 million citizens

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to establish a Cybersecurity Operations Centre, which will ensure the protection of citizens’ data and digital transactions statewide.

According to a statement by Tunbosun Alake, the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, the need arises amid the growing number of digitally savvy citizens. He noted that the centre will provide digital protection and Lagosians will use digital payment platforms, online services, and other technology-guided innovations.

Lagos is home to approximately 15 million people. A large percentage of this population is online, owing to the state’s development status and its position as one of Nigeria’s busiest cities. 

The creation of a strong system that protects digital information from hackers and various cybersecurity threats guarantees the safety of the growing population using the internet for digital payment, business activities and other operations. 

“The network upgrade will improve efficiency, automate processes, enhance citizen engagement and support our vision of a smarter city environment,” Mr Alake said.

As part of the initiative, Mr Alake pointed out that Lagos State currently has 109 data protection officers deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The figure represents the highest number of Data Protection Officers currently recorded by any state in Nigeria, according to the Commissioner. 

In addition to the preparation, Mr Alake said that the government also launched the Lagos Campus Network Upgrade aimed at strengthening the digital infrastructure within the public service.

Also Read: Lagos’ Cybersecurity Guidelines is a tiered, practical blueprint, but will it stick?

Lagos State is elevating tech innovations

While affirming the Lagos State government’s readiness to support innovation, tech-driven problem-solving tools and entrepreneurship, the commissioner said the state government has disbursed over N900 million to support 75 startups and more than 80 research projects in the year under review.

With this, the state continues to welcome the highest international research funding support owing to its rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem, according to the Commissioner. 

The Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), which collects, records and provides an updated database of all residents of Lagos State, has also expanded its residents’ database. Mr Alake said LASRRA now possesses more than 6.8 million registration records, including more than 2.5 million adults and over 2.5 million children.

However, the control of data is not as essential as keeping the information safe (for both agencies and citizens). And this forms the mantra of the Lagos State government’s cybersecurity centre initiative in data protection amid the fast-paced digital world.

In late April, the Lagos State government rolled out a set of cybersecurity guidelines to strengthen digital safety for various categories of citizens in the state. 

Some of the guidelines, as contained in the state’s cybersecurity guide, are self-assess, which includes identification of current vulnerabilities across devices, and the implementation of foundational security controls such as two-factor authentication (2FA), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and backups.

The guidelines aligned with key national frameworks, including the Cybercrime Act (2024), the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023), and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (2021).