Nigeria Confronts 4,200 Weekly Cyber-Attacks Amid Digital Expansion
Nigeria is currently grappling with an average of 4,200 cyber-attacks every week, a surge directly tied to the nation's rapidly expanding digital economy, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani. The minister revealed this alarming statistic during the inaugural stakeholders' session on the proposed Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination, held in Abuja yesterday.
Digital Growth Fuels Cyber Threats
Tijani emphasized that the country's swift digital transformation, characterized by increased connectivity, higher internet usage, and growing digital transactions, has made Nigeria more vulnerable to malicious actors. "The stronger your digital economy becomes, the more cyber-attacks you're going to witness. We must therefore focus on building coordinated resilience rather than reacting in isolation," he stated.
Highlighting Nigeria's digital progress, Tijani noted that over the past two decades, the nation has seen significant growth with over 160 million internet users and approximately 157 million mobile lines, alongside expanding broadband and 4G coverage nationwide. He explained that ongoing government investments in digital infrastructure, including a nationwide fibre network and additional telecom towers, are expected to deepen connectivity but simultaneously widen the risk surface for cyber threats.
Proposed Advisory Council for Enhanced Coordination
The proposed Ministerial Advisory Council for Cybersecurity Coordination aims to strengthen collaboration and response mechanisms across Nigeria's digital space. Tijani stressed that this initiative is designed to provide a platform for government agencies, private sector players, and experts to jointly identify risks, share intelligence, and align policy responses. "This is not about government alone. Cybersecurity cannot be addressed in silos. It requires collaboration across all stakeholders," he remarked.
The minister added that the advisory council will be shaped through a series of engagements before its formal inauguration, with contributions from stakeholders determining its structure and effectiveness. He urged participants to actively contribute ideas, emphasizing that the initiative is intended to ensure Nigeria remains proactive and resilient against evolving cyber threats.
Emerging Technologies and Human Vulnerabilities
In his remarks, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, pointed out that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are reshaping the cyber threat landscape. He warned that Nigeria's interconnected systems make it susceptible to cascading attacks, where a breach in one sector can quickly spread to others.
Inuwa further cautioned that the speed and scale of emerging threats necessitate a shift from reactive security measures to proactive, intelligence-driven systems capable of anticipating and neutralizing risks before they escalate. He also highlighted the importance of capacity building, noting that human error remains a major vulnerability in cybersecurity incidents.
CBN Issues Warning on Hacking Attempts
In a related development, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a public warning about attempts by hackers to gain access to personal accounts of Nigerians. The apex bank, in a statement signed by its acting director of corporate communications, Hakama Sidi Ali, disclosed that hackers are circulating fraudulent messages and emails falsely claiming to originate from the bank.
According to the financial regulator, these misleading messages are designed to deceive Nigerians and compromise their personal information. The fake communications, which include emails and online messages, often prompt recipients to click suspicious links while spreading false claims about the bank's leadership, licensing activities, and policy decisions. The CBN clarified that this fraudulent content is aimed at hacking personal accounts and misleading unsuspecting members of the public.
The CBN provided the following guidelines to the public:
- The official website of the Central Bank of Nigeria remains www.cbn.gov.ng.
- Members of the public are strongly advised to refrain from clicking links or sharing personal information on suspicious websites.
- Verify the authenticity of all CBN communications through the official website and recognised media outlets.
- Report any suspected fraudulent site, email, or message to law enforcement authorities.
This comprehensive approach underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures as Nigeria continues to advance its digital economy, with stakeholders calling for coordinated efforts to mitigate risks and protect citizens from cyber threats.
