Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has commented about the recent claim by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that its website was hacked.
In a statement released by his media office on Thursday, Atiku questioned the timing and circumstances surrounding the alleged breach, describing it as “suspicious.”
According to the statement, this incident is the first time in the bureau’s history that its website has been compromised. The former Vice President stressed that the development could damage the integrity of the data published by the NBS, which serves as an important resource for national planning, development, and research.
Atiku’s media office also pointed out the coincidence of the cyberattack occurring shortly after the NBS released its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey.
The statement warned that such events might lead Nigerians to distrust future data from the Bureau, suggesting that the hack could have been politically motivated.
The NBS, through a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, acknowledged the breach and assured the public that efforts were underway to restore its website. The agency spoke on the inconvenience caused and reiterated its focus on maintaining the accuracy and credibility of its statistics.
Experts Call for Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures
The incident has led to discussions among cybersecurity experts, who have highlighted the risks of cyberattacks on government infrastructure.
Adebola Akande, a cybersecurity consultant, stressed the need for solid security protocols, including regular system audits, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive staff training to prevent such occurrences.
“The NBS is a vital institution, and any compromise to its data systems could have far-reaching consequences, from misinformation to potential financial and policy mishaps,” Akande stated.
The breach is part of a worrying trend of cyberattacks on government institutions in Nigeria, raising urgent calls for a national strategy to strengthen cybersecurity across all sectors. Experts have also cautioned that malicious actors could exploit such vulnerabilities to spread false information or manipulate public opinion.
The hacking incident has accentuated the need to safeguard the integrity of official data, especially in a country where statistics is indispensable in shaping policy and development. The NBS has pledged to uphold its responsibility of providing reliable data to the public and vowed to strengthen its digital defences.
