Industry leaders and security experts are sounding the alarm, calling for an urgent and robust cybersecurity framework to shield Nigeria's vital maritime operations from a new wave of sophisticated digital attacks. This push comes as the sector's rapid digital transformation, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), opens new vulnerabilities that could disrupt trade, cause massive economic losses, and threaten national security.
AI and LLMs: New Weapons for Maritime Cybercriminals
According to leading global security firms, the threat landscape in 2025 has become dangerously complex. Lloyd's Register has highlighted escalating risks from ransomware, navigation system hacks, and communication disruptions. These attacks are not just about data theft; they can lead to financial ruin, endanger lives at sea, and cripple global supply chains.
Adding to the concern, Dryad Global reports that cybercriminals are now leveraging advanced technologies like AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to launch more adaptive and precise strikes. Their targets are the critical control systems onboard vessels and within port infrastructure. Furthermore, the interconnected nature of modern maritime logistics has made supply chain attacks a significant and growing worry.
Outdated Systems and Lack of Framework Compound Nigeria's Risk
Professor Alfred Oniye, the Anti-piracy Security Head at Trident Group America Inc and President of the Merchant Seafarers Association of USA Inc and Nigeria, pinpointed the core challenges facing Nigeria. He explained that as the sector embraces digital tools, criminals find fresh opportunities to exploit weaknesses.
The problem is worsened by the widespread use of outdated technologies in many Nigerian ports and vessels, which lack the defences needed to counter modern cyber threats. Professor Oniye stressed the absence of a comprehensive national cybersecurity framework, leaving maritime assets exposed to increasingly sophisticated global attacks. He called for immediate action, advocating for technology modernization, enhanced training, policy development, and stronger international collaboration to secure the nation's maritime backbone.
NPCC Launches Taskforce to Drive Digital Security
Echoing this urgency, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), confirmed that cybersecurity is now a top strategic priority. He warned that the growing integration of AI, while beneficial, also raises the stakes for data breaches, operational shutdowns, and attacks on critical infrastructure.
"Nigeria's competitiveness and national security hinge on the sector's ability to fortify its digital assets," Sunmola stated. To address this, he announced the creation of the NPCC Cybersecurity & Digitalisation Taskforce as a key part of the Council's 2026 strategy. This taskforce will develop practical security recommendations for ports and oversee expanded training programs in cybersecurity awareness and AI literacy for personnel across the board.
Additionally, the Council plans to intensify support for the National Single Window project to ensure secure system integration and extend its digital development efforts to ports outside Lagos for a more inclusive national corridor.
Retired Rear Admiral Francis Akpan, analysing the evolving threats, cautioned that with expanding automation and AI, the industry must now prioritise coordination, strict cyber hygiene, and proactive risk management to prevent catastrophic disruptions to Nigeria's trade and logistics networks.
