NBS confirms hack of newly redesigned website

The National Bureau of Statistics has announced that its newly redesigned official website has been hacked.

This announcement was made in a brief statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.

The NBS disclosed the incident and assured the public that efforts are underway to recover the website. It urged the public to disregard any messages or reports posted until the full recovery of its website.

The statement on X read: “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 hacking of the NBS website occurred barely two weeks after the Bureau unveiled its redesigned platform.

This incident raises concerns about the potential misuse of official data and the integrity of vital national statistics during the recovery period.

The NBS, a critical government agency responsible for collecting and disseminating statistical data on Nigeria’s economy, governance, and development, plays a pivotal role in informing public policy and decision-making processes.

The cyberattack highlights the increasing vulnerability of government institutions to digital threats.

Earlier, The PUNCH reported that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is under siege from cybercriminals, with organisations facing an average of 3,759 cyberattacks weekly.

This was according to the latest 2024 African Perspectives on Cyber Security Report by Check Point Software Technologies.

The report paints a grim picture of the country’s vulnerability as it increasingly embraces digitalisation, with critical sectors such as finance, government, and education bearing the brunt of the attacks.

Ransomware has emerged as the most significant threat, targeting both public and private institutions by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.

The report noted that government institutions are not spared, with public sector entities experiencing an average of 1,791 attacks weekly.

Ransomware and botnet activities dominate the threats to this sector, which plays a crucial role in managing the nation’s economy.