The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s primary agency for data collection and analysis, announced on Wednesday that its official website has been compromised by hackers. In a statement released on their verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the NBS informed the public of the breach and advised against relying on any information from the site until it is fully restored.
“This is to inform the public that the NBS Website has been hacked, and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored,” the statement read.
The cyberattack occurred shortly after the NBS released its latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, which revealed that Nigerians paid approximately N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.
This incident is part of a broader trend of increasing cyberattacks on Nigerian government websites. In recent years, several agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have experienced similar breaches.
The NBS has assured the public that efforts are underway to restore the website and has urged users to disregard any information from the site until it is confirmed secure.
As cyber threats continue to rise, this breach underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures across government platforms to protect sensitive data and maintain public trust.
