ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND CYBERSECURITY IN NIGERIA: A SURVEY OF STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTIONS IN JOS METROPOLIS
Keywords:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Academically gifted students, Secondary school students, Social media addiction, socioeconomic statusAbstract
The increasing integration of digital technologies into environmental governance has created new opportunities for achieving sustainable development while simultaneously exposing critical environmental systems to cyber threats. This study examined the nexus between environmental sustainability and cybersecurity and explored their implications for resilient sustainable development in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between environmental sustainability and cybersecurity, assessed the role of cybersecurity in protecting environmental infrastructure, and examined the challenges posed by cyber threats to sustainability systems, and identified policy strategies for integrating cybersecurity into environmental governance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with data collected from 298 respondents selected through a stratified random sampling technique from environmental agencies, information technology organizations, renewable energy institutions, academia, and government establishments. Data were gathered using a structured five-point Likert scale questionnaire with a reliability coefficient (Cronbach’s Alpha) of 0.89 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis at a 5% level of significance. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between environmental sustainability and cybersecurity (r = 0.741, p < 0.05), indicating that stronger cybersecurity measures enhance sustainable environmental management. The study also found that 82.6% of respondents agreed that cybersecurity is essential for protecting critical environmental infrastructure, while 79.2% identified cyber threats as a major challenge to environmental governance and digital sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, 87.4% supported the integration of cybersecurity policies into national environmental frameworks to improve resilience and institutional effectiveness. The study concludes that cybersecurity has become an indispensable pillar of environmental sustainability and recommends the adoption of integrated policy frameworks, increased investment in cyber-resilient infrastructure, capacity building, and strengthened institutional collaboration to promote resilient and sustainable development in an increasingly digital society.
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