Rapid growth in Nigeria’s digital economy is bringing millions of citizens online through smartphones, fintech applications and social media platforms. However, the rise in digital adoption is also exposing a critical gap as many users lack the knowledge and tools required to protect themselves from online threats.
A recent survey by Afrobarometer shows that while internet usage across parts of Africa is widespread, awareness and consistent use of digital security tools remain far behind the pace of digital adoption. The report highlights a significant gap between the growing digital presence of Nigerian users and their preparedness to deal with online risks.
The survey, conducted through telephone interviews across seven African countries including Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania, examined internet users’ digital presence and cybersecurity awareness, including their understanding of online threats and the safety tools and practices they adopt.
The findings show that most adults now access the internet frequently, but familiarity with tools designed to protect digital privacy and personal data remains limited.
Internet use is widespread
Across the surveyed countries, internet usage has become a routine activity for a large share of adults. On average, about 84 percent of respondents who use the internet said they go online either daily or several times a week.
The mobile phone has emerged as the dominant gateway to the digital world. About 85 percent of respondents rely on mobile devices to access the internet, underscoring the central role smartphones now play in Africa’s connectivity story.
Young people lead this trend. Adults between the ages of 18 and 35 were found to be the most frequent internet users, with 87 percent reporting regular online activity compared with between 74 percent and 83 percent among older age groups.
Social media platforms have also become a primary source of information. More than eight in ten respondents, representing about 82 percent, said they obtain news regularly through social media channels. Another 51 percent reported getting news from other online sites.
These patterns reflect broader developments across Africa’s digital landscape, where mobile connectivity, digital payments, and online services have grown rapidly in recent years.
Rising concerns over digital threats
Despite this widespread adoption, many internet users remain worried about their digital safety.
More than half of respondents across the surveyed countries, about 52 percent, said they were concerned about the security of their personal information online. A large majority, 81 percent, also identified mobile phones as the devices most vulnerable to digital threats, ahead of computers and other internet-connected devices.
These concerns come as cybercrime, identity theft, and online fraud continue to affect individuals and businesses across the continent. In Nigeria, for instance, the expansion of fintech services and digital banking has made online platforms more central to everyday financial transactions, increasing the importance of strong cybersecurity practices.
Yet the Afrobarometer findings suggest that the awareness needed to manage these risks is still developing.
Limited knowledge of protection tools
Only about one-third of respondents, 32 percent, said they were somewhat or very familiar with tools and skills that can help protect their digital privacy and personal information.
The level of awareness varies widely across the surveyed countries. In Angola, about 62 percent of respondents reported some familiarity with online protection tools. In contrast, awareness dropped considerably in Benin and Senegal, where only around one in five respondents said they had similar knowledge.
The report indicates that this gap between concern and preparedness leaves many internet users exposed to potential online threats.
“Taken together, these findings highlight a gap between users’ perceptions of online risks and their ability to respond effectively to them,” the survey noted.
Security practices remain inconsistent
Even among those who are aware of cybersecurity tools, adoption remains uneven.
Strong passwords are the most commonly used form of protection. About 72 percent of respondents said they rely on complex passwords to secure their online accounts.
However, other forms of digital security are far less common.
Only about one in three respondents, representing 33 percent, said they use two-factor authentication, a security measure that adds an additional verification step when logging into accounts. The use of antivirus software is also relatively low at around 30 percent, while virtual private networks, commonly known as VPNs, are used by only 21 percent of respondents.
Usage rates vary significantly between countries. Two-factor authentication approaches half of respondents in Nigeria, Kenya, and Angola, where adoption rates are around 46 to 47 percent. In contrast, it falls below 20 percent in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin.
VPN usage also differs widely across the region, reaching 41 percent in Angola and 37 percent in Senegal but remaining below one-quarter in most of the other countries surveyed.
Password habits reveal additional gaps
Even the most common protective practice, using strong passwords, often lacks consistency.
The survey shows that many users rarely update their login credentials. Only about 23 percent of respondents said they change their passwords frequently, either daily or several times a week.
Around 32 percent reported changing their passwords only occasionally, such as a few times a month or even less frequently. A significant portion, 44 percent, admitted they never change their passwords at all.
The proportion of users who never update their passwords is particularly high in some countries. Majorities in Benin, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire reported never changing their passwords, suggesting that even basic cybersecurity habits are not widely practiced.
Informal sources dominate digital safety advice
Another key finding from the survey is how people learn about online security.
Most respondents rely on informal channels for guidance. About 62 percent said they obtain information about digital safety from friends or family members, while 60 percent turn to social media platforms.
More structured sources of knowledge appear less common. Less than half of respondents reported learning about online safety through online videos or tutorials. Only 32 percent cited news articles or websites as sources of information, while workplace training accounted for just 29 percent.
This pattern suggests that reliable cybersecurity education may not be reaching many internet users through formal channels.
Implications for Africa’s digital future
The findings come at a time when Africa’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, driven by mobile connectivity, e-commerce, digital finance, and online media.
Nigeria in particular has seen strong growth in fintech platforms, mobile banking, and digital services, helping broaden access to financial products and information. However, the Afrobarometer survey suggests that the benefits of digital connectivity could be undermined if cybersecurity awareness does not improve alongside it.
Without stronger knowledge of protective tools, many users may remain vulnerable to online scams, data breaches, and identity theft.
Afrobarometer notes that the study, while limited to seven countries and adult respondents aged 17 and above, highlights significant gaps in digital literacy across the region.
The organisation argues that targeted education programmes, improved digital safety awareness campaigns, and more accessible training resources could help bridge the gap between internet use and cybersecurity readiness.
“Educating citizens about online safety is an essential step toward building a more informed, resilient, and responsible digital community. Real progress, however, depends on translating awareness into action and ensuring that citizens actively adopt and practice online security measures, in addition to strengthening and enforcing the legal frameworks that govern Internet activities,” the report noted.
As Africa’s digital footprint continues to grow, the challenge may no longer be simply getting people online, but ensuring they have the skills and tools to stay safe once they are there.
