Assessment of the Impact of Cybersecurity Legal Frameworks on the Telecommunications Sector in Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian telecommunications sector has witnessed huge implementation and evolution of various cybersecurity legal frameworks, driven by rapid technological advancements and the convergence of telecommunications and information technology (IT). This convergence has resulted in increased connectivity but proportionately heightened cybersecurity challenges. Despite the existence of these frameworks, no comprehensive impact assessment has been conducted to evaluate their effectiveness. This paper addressed this gap by assessing the impact of the cybersecurity legal frameworks on the telecommunications sector. The study developed an impact assessment model that computes the Cybersecurity Legal Framework Impact Index (CLFII), to measure the overall impact of these legal frameworks on the telecoms sector. Data were collected from 43 participants, and the results were analysed across five impact categories (IC₁-IC₅). The findings revealed that over 83% of respondents fell within the IC₃ range (0.41–0.61), while 16% scored in the IC₄ range (0.61–0.81). Two key metrics, Legal Framework Impact Assessment Metrics (LFIAMs), were identified to evaluate the frameworks’ impact on cybersecurity capabilities and collaborations. The results showed that while the legal frameworks have significant positive impact on collaborations (74% of participants scoring in the C₄ range), their impact on building cybersecurity capabilities was less substantial, with all participants scoring in the C₃ range. These findings highlight the need for enhancement of the capacity-building measures in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.