- The Global Security Index (GCI) ranked 194 countries into five tiers using the five pillars of security through the report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Nigeria was ranked among the Tier 3 countries in the GCI 2024 report
- The ITU Secretary-general and Director emphasised the need to build trust and implement the necessary factors to manage cyber threats in the respective countries
In the recently released 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Nigeria has been ranked among Tier 3 countries. The GCI evaluated 194 nations, categorising them across five tiers based on their commitment to cybersecurity across five pillars: legal, technical, organisational, capacity-building, and cooperation.
Tier 1 countries represent the highest level of cybersecurity commitment across five security pillars which include legal, technical, organisational, capacity-building, and cooperative pillars. Tier 2 are countries that have demonstrated a visible development and commitment in all 5 security pillars, while Tier 3 and 4 countries are countries that still need to work on making cybersecurity part of their meaningful connectivity objectives even though they have been doing some work in expanding digital services. The Tier 5 countries are countries that are deficient in the 5 security pillars.
According to the report, a total of 46 countries were placed in Tier 1, while 105 countries were ranked in Tier 3 and Tier 4.
ITU also stated that Africa, as a region, stood out for its significant cybersecurity growth since 2021.
Nigeria ranked Tier 3 in GCI 2024
However, Nigeria was ranked in Tier 3, being part of a group of 105 countries that have expanded digital infrastructure but are still working to develop comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks. Nigeria obtained the highest score in legal measures by scoring 19.52 out of the 20 marks obtainable.
The report described Nigeria as “establishing” its cybersecurity efforts, reflecting some measure of progress in digital services and connectivity but stating the need for further improvement and development to fully integrate robust cybersecurity measures into the system.
In addition, the report praised Nigeria for its strides in digital services and connectivity but highlighted a significant "Cyber capacity gap" fueled by limitations in skills, staffing, and funding. Still, the ITU recognised Nigeria's commitment to addressing these challenges.
ITU stakeholders comment on GCI 2024 report
The ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, spoke on the importance of building trust in the digital world by ensuring that everyone can manage cyber threats in today's increasingly complex digital landscape. In her words, “Building trust in the digital world is paramount…the progress seen in the Global Cybersecurity Index is a sign that we must continue to focus efforts to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can safely and securely manage cyber threats in today’s increasingly complex digital landscape.”
Further, the report shows that under-developed countries or least-developed countries (LDC) have also started making efforts to advance cybersecurity in their respective countries, though they still require support to advance further and faster. The average LDC had reached the same level of cybersecurity status that many of the non-LDC developing countries had in 2021, the rest stated.
Cosmas Zavazava, the Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, stated that countries that implement the necessary factors are making significant improvements in cybersecurity. In his words, “The Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 shows significant improvements by countries that are implementing essential legal measures, plans, capacity-building initiatives, and cooperation frameworks, especially in strengthening incident response capabilities.
“ITU’s cybersecurity projects and programs are supporting those national efforts to more effectively manage cyberthreats, and I hope that the progress demonstrated by this latest index encourages countries to do more in developing secure and trustworthy digital systems and networks.”
Moreover, as Nigeria works to balance its digital expansion with stronger cybersecurity measures, it remains a focal point in Africa's journey toward cyber resilience.
Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, 7 others top the list of countries with the highest workers' stress rate in Africa
Meanwhile, TheRadar recently highlighted Nigeria's high stress rate among workers, ranking the country 8th in Africa. According to Gallup's 2023 Global Workplace Report, the country has a reported stress rate of 50%.
Some other African countries that were ranked in the top 10 with the highest stress rate include Chad, Uganda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Libya.
