The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of Nigeria has announced that its newly redesigned website has been targeted in a cyberattack.
They confirmed this in a statement on their official X (formerly Twitter) account and assured Nigerians that restoration efforts are in progress.
The breach happened two weeks after the NBS launched its revamped platform, sparking concerns about the security of official data and the reliability of national statistics.
As Nigeria’s primary data agency, the NBS is crucial for collating economic and developmental statistics. This incident highlights the rising vulnerability of public institutions to cyberattacks in a digitized world.
Bigger Picture of Cyber Attacks in Africa
According to Positive Technologies, the sectors mostly targeted in Africa are government and finance accounting for 29% and 22% of all successful cyberattacks in their report.
INTERPOL estimates that cybercrime costs the continent over $4 billion annually—around 10% of Africa’s total GDP.
Namibia’s state-owned telecom company suffered a ransomware attack days ago and according to an IBM report, ransomware attack costs rose by 13% in 2023 to an average of $5.13 million.
The Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 highlights Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Tanzania as leading African countries with strong cybersecurity infrastructure, placing them in tier 1.
Nigeria is in tier 3, showing that it is implementing cybersecurity measures that meet global standards.
Government Efforts and Rising Threats
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) regularly warn about cybercriminals targeting individuals, government agencies, banks, and telecoms.
Recently, NIDTA blew an alarm about an emerging malware threat targeting African banks. The agency also warned Nigerians about cybercriminals exploiting Spotify for malicious intent.
Despite these efforts, cyber threats remain a major concern for Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Notable incidents in Nigeria include:
- EFCC Website Breach (2020): The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission reported an attempt to breach its website.
- ENDSARS Protests (2020): Hackers took over the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) social media accounts, posting messages critical of the government.
- NCC Warning (2021): The Nigerian Communications Commission alerted the public about Lyceum, an Iranian cyber espionage group targeting telecom companies, ISPs, and foreign affairs ministries in Nigeria and Africa.
What Needs to Be Done
To combat these threats, Nigeria must strengthen its cybersecurity framework, increase awareness, and invest in technology to safeguard its critical systems. Failure to act could lead to severe economic, governance, and reputational consequences for the nation.
As cybercrime continues to escalate, both governments and individuals must remain vigilant to mitigate the risks and protect Nigeria’s digital future.
About Author
