The role of public-private partnership on the implementation of national cybersecurity policies: A case of Nigeria

Compared to other components of the Cyberspace, Cybersecurity is emerging the most prominent domain of concern. The reason may not be unconnected with the geometric growth in the evolution of new computer-based technologies by the day and the deployment of such technologies for both positive and negative purposes. There are four major areas where Cybersecurity programs are massively ongoing: Technology Products, Research, Education, and Business enterprises. These four areas are unarguably very vital and affect the socioeconomic development of any society. E-commerce and other sensitive socio-economic ventures are growing but are markedly deterred by security concerns in the Cyberspace. Having regard to the foregoing, this paper examines the ongoing Cybersecurity developments in Nigeria especially as it affects the sectors under review. The argument is that there has not been a significant synergy between the two sectors in promoting Cybersecurity development in Nigeria hence the terrifying spate of cybercrimes amidst the Cybercrime prevention and prohibition laws. We submit that a mutual front propelled by Public-Private Partnership (PPP) would go a long way to reducing the spate of these crimes in the cyberspace thus promoting socio-economic development in Nigeria and the sub-region. It is also submitted that with the involvement of public and private sectors, the legal frameworks for combating cybercrimes would be enhanced further through the use of joint socio-technical approaches.