Sylvia Duruson
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed a significant cyber attack on its systems.The bureau, responsible for managing critical national data, disclosed the incident through their social media platform X, promptly advising the public to disregard any information from their platforms until full system restoration.
The attack has severely disrupted the bureau’s operations, potentially compromising sensitive national data including economic indicators, demographic statistics, and vital planning information. The NBS serves as a cornerstone for national development, providing essential data that guides policy decisions and economic planning across Nigeria.
This security breach adds to a growing list of cyber attacks targeting African institutions throughout 2024. Kenya’s Micro and Small Enterprise Authority experienced a similar breach, resulting in confidential government information being traded on dark web platforms. Nigeria had already faced a comparable challenge in June when the National Identity Management Commission’s data appeared for sale on Anyverify, highlighting the escalating threat to government institutions across the continent.
The timing of this attack proves particularly challenging for Nigeria, as it coincides with the government’s aggressive push toward digital transformation across various sectors. The National Information Technology Development Agency had recently issued warnings about Grandoreiro malware targeting the country’s financial sector, suggesting an increasing sophistication in cyber threats targeting Nigerian institutions.
These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures across Africa’s government institutions. The vulnerability of national data centers has become increasingly apparent as digital transformation initiatives continue to expand. The incident at the NBS serves as a stark reminder of the critical balance required between digital advancement and robust security protocols in modern governance systems.
As authorities work to restore the NBS systems, the incident has sparked renewed discussions about the resilience of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure. The attack not only threatens the immediate accessibility of crucial national statistics but also raises broader concerns about the security of government data systems in an era of increasing cyber threats.
