Amid Rising Cyber Attacks on Nigeria's Institutions, SMSAM Systems Ltd launches a bespoke cybersecurity initiative knon as Project SecureNaija

Amid Rising Cyber Attacks on Nigeria's Institutions, SMSAM Systems Ltd launches a bespoke cybersecurity initiative knon as Project SecureNaija

Project SecureNaija combines global standards ith a containment-first strategy mapped to NDPR, CBN, and NCC regulations

As cyberattacks continue to target Nigeria’s financial services and payment infrastructure, one recurring observation has emerged: many organisations are operating with security frameworks that were not designed for local conditions.

Industry experts note that while digital transformation has accelerated across Nigerian banking, fintech, and telecommunications sectors, cybersecurity maturity has not always kept pace. Recurring vulnerabilities include weak access controls, poor network segmentation, delayed threat detection, and reactive incident response structures.

Globally, cybercrime damages are projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Across Africa, ransomware, credential theft, and infrastructure breaches are rising — and Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy remains a significant target.

In response to these challenges, SMSAM Systems Ltd., a Lagos-based cybersecurity firm, has unveiled Project SecureNaija — a flagship cybersecurity framework designed specifically for Nigerian institutional environments.

The framework integrates globally recognised standards, including NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and MITRE ATT&CK, while maintaining compliance mapping against Nigeria’s NDPR, CBN Cybersecurity Framework, and NCC guidelines.

Project SecureNaija is built on five strategic pillars:

- Threat Intelligence – Continuous monitoring of Nigeria-specific cyber threats

- Containment Architecture – Zero-trust principles to limit lateral movement during breaches

- AI-Augmented Detection – Behavioural analytics tuned to local infrastructure

- AI-Assisted Incident Response – Structured playbooks for rapid recovery

- Regulatory Alignment – Governance mapping to reduce compliance exposure

According to SMSAM Systems, the framework moves beyond theoretical compliance toward practical, containment-first resilience.

"Cybersecurity strategies cannot be effective in Nigeria if they ignore the country’s operational, regulatory, infrastructure, and talent realities," the company stated in a release.

With Nigeria’s digital infrastructure becoming increasingly interconnected, experts agree that localised defence strategies will be essential to protecting public trust, regulatory confidence, and operational continuity.