The official website of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been hacked, sparking concerns over the security of critical national data.
The shocking announcement was made by the Bureau on Wednesday evening through its X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The statement, posted at exactly 8:32 pm, warned the public to disregard any messages or reports claiming to be from the Bureau until the issue is resolved.
“This is to inform the public that the NBS website has been hacked, and we are working to recover it,” the statement read.
The Bureau assured Nigerians that its technical team was working round the clock to restore the website.
Hacked Page Sparks Alarm
A quick check of the NBS website revealed the unsettling words: “Page Hacked.”
Attempts to navigate the site were met with additional warnings of a severe system failure.
The error message displayed read:
“Internal Server Error. The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
“Please contact the server administrator at [email protected] to inform them of the time this error occurred and the actions you performed just before this error.”
The error message continued with further details of the server’s inability to resolve the issue, highlighting a “500 Internal Server Error” problem.
This development has left Nigerians questioning how such a vital platform could fall prey to cybercriminals.
Public Reactions
News of the hack has sparked outrage and concern among Nigerians, many of whom rely on the NBS for accurate data on the economy, population, and other critical sectors.
“It’s scary to think that hackers could access such an important site. What does this mean for the safety of our national statistics?” asked Uche, an economist based in Lagos.
Others called on the government to take immediate steps to safeguard public institutions against cyberattacks.
“This is a wake-up call for all government agencies. Cybersecurity must become a top priority,” tweeted Musa Ahmed, a technology expert.
Rising Threat of Cybercrime
This incident is not the first time Nigerian government websites have faced cyberattacks.
In 2023, the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was temporarily taken offline after being targeted by hackers.
The rising wave of cybercrime globally has made organizations in both the public and private sectors vulnerable.
According to a report by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria recorded over 3,000 cyberattacks during the first half of 2024.
These attacks have targeted financial institutions, government agencies, and even small businesses, leading to billions of naira in losses.
Questions of Preparedness
Experts are now questioning the preparedness of government agencies to handle such breaches.
“Government websites are often poorly secured, making them easy targets for hackers,” said Dr. Funmi Adekunle, a cybersecurity researcher.
She noted that most agencies lack updated security infrastructure, leaving them vulnerable to attacks that could compromise sensitive information.
The NBS website serves as a repository for vital statistics that guide policy decisions and economic planning.
The potential consequences of tampering with such data could be catastrophic, experts warn.
Calls for Action
Many Nigerians are demanding that the government take urgent measures to address the vulnerabilities in its digital systems.
“Cybersecurity should not be an afterthought,” said Tony Bassey, a tech entrepreneur.
He added that the government must invest in advanced security systems and train personnel to respond to emerging threats.
Several experts have also suggested a collaboration between public institutions and private cybersecurity firms to strengthen defenses.
The hack on the NBS website comes at a time when trust in government data is already fragile due to economic challenges.
Nigerians are now calling for transparency on how the Bureau intends to handle the situation and prevent future breaches.
