AI-Driven Cyber Threats and Defences in Nigeria's Digital Economy: A Literature Review

Abstract

The rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy driven by fintech innovation, mobile banking, e-commerce, and post–COVID-19 digital transformation has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in sophisticated cyber threats. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a dual-use technology, enabling both advanced cyberattacks and innovative defensive mechanisms. This literature review synthesizes existing research on AI-driven cyber threats and AI-based defense strategies within the context of Nigeria’s evolving digital ecosystem. Drawing on nearly one hundred scholarly and institutional sources, the study examines the nature of AI-enabled attack vectors, criminal actors, sectoral vulnerabilities, and the socio-economic drivers shaping cybercrime in Nigeria. Key threats identified include AI-assisted phishing, deepfake impersonation, automated malware deployment, ransomware-as-a-service, and intrusion detection evasion, with the fintech, telecommunications, healthcare, and government sectors remaining the most exposed. The review further evaluates the role of AI in cybersecurity defense, including machine learning–based anomaly detection, intrusion prevention, incident response, and recovery systems. Governance challenges, regulatory gaps, workforce capacity limitations, and infrastructural constraints affecting effective AI adoption are also analyzed. Findings reveal that while Nigeria mirrors global cybercrime trends, unique local factors such as unemployment, digital financial inclusion, and limited enforcement capacity intensify cyber risks. The study highlights significant research gaps, particularly in AI ethics, data sovereignty, and localized cybersecurity frameworks. It concludes that sustained investment in AI-driven defenses, policy reform, and capacity building is essential for strengthening cyber resilience and safeguarding Nigeria’s digital economy.