Cybersecurity Governance, International Norms, and Nigeria’s Digital Foreign Policy

The governance of cyberspace has become a central arena of international relations, as states, multilateral institutions, and non-state actors negotiate norms, treaties, and institutional arrangements to manage cyber threats, protect critical infrastructure, and balance security imperatives with digital rights. Nigeria, as Africa's largest digital economy by internet user base and GDP, faces mounting cyber threats, including financial fraud, state-sponsored cyber espionage, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, that demand coherent domestic and international policy responses. This study examines Nigeria's engagement with international cybersecurity governance frameworks, including the UN Group of Governmental Experts processes, the Budapest Convention debates, and bilateral cybersecurity cooperation agreements, situating the analysis within academic perspectives from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A qualitative methodology is employed, combining policy document analysis with interviews of UNN computer science, law, and political science faculty engaged in cybersecurity research. The normative framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace and constructivist theories of norm diffusion guide the inquiry. Findings reveal that Nigeria actively participates in global cybersecurity dialogues but lacks a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy that integrates international normative commitments with domestic enforcement capacities. Gaps in technical expertise, interagency coordination, and cybercrime prosecution rates undermine Nigeria's credibility as a cybersecurity governance partner. The study recommends a national digital foreign policy document that explicitly links Nigeria's international cyber commitments to domestic capacity building benchmarks. Keywords: cybersecurity governance, digital foreign policy, international norms, Nigeria, cyber threats