The NBS website is back online after a cyberattack that lasted 29 days, raising concerns about data security. The hack followed the release of a controversial crime report. The attack has caused delays in policy meetings and sparked fears about the integrity of critical economic data.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website has been restored after being down for 29 days due to a cyberattack, which was confirmed on December 18, 2024. The attack raised concerns over the security of Nigeria's economic data, especially after the controversial release of a crime report. This report revealed that Nigerians paid ₦2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024, and also documented a significant number of crime incidents across the country. The report, which triggered media speculation about the involvement of the statistician-general, was published just one day before the website was hacked. In response to the cyberattack, the NBS has removed the report from its site.
The hack has caused significant disruptions to Nigeria's economic activities. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had to reschedule its Monetary Policy Committee meeting, originally planned for January 2025, due to the failure to publish crucial inflation data. Economist Muhammad Bello pointed out that the website downtime could delay important policy decisions and investor confidence.
Additionally, concerns were raised about data integrity, with questions about the NBS's ability to safeguard critical information needed for the upcoming rebasing of the Nigerian GDP. The hack has underscored the importance of maintaining secure, reliable data platforms for economic governance and development.
