Hackers Compromise Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics Platform

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of Nigeria has recently announced that its official website was compromised by hackers, leading to a disruption in its ability to provide timely information to the public. In an effort to safeguard the integrity of the data and services it provides, the NBS has urged the public to disregard any messages or reports that may appear on the website until it is fully restored. This announcement was made through the bureau’s official social media platform, X, signaling the seriousness of the breach. The NBS is currently working tirelessly to recover the website and ensure that all the information hosted on it remains accurate and secure.

The NBS is Nigeria’s foremost agency tasked with the collection, analysis, and dissemination of critical statistical data. This includes providing in-depth reports on the country’s economic performance, social conditions, and other key indicators that shape governmental policy and public discourse. The bureau’s data is essential not only to policymakers but also to businesses, academics, and the general public who rely on accurate statistics to understand various aspects of Nigerian life.

Among the reports recently published by the NBS is the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the third quarter of 2024. This report is a key indicator of Nigeria’s economic health, and it showed that the country’s GDP grew by 3.46% in real terms on a year-on-year basis. This growth represents an improvement over the previous year’s performance, which recorded a lower growth rate of 2.54% in Q3 2023. The growth in the third quarter of 2024 also outpaced the second quarter of 2024, which had shown a more modest increase of 3.19%. These figures suggest that Nigeria’s economy is gradually recovering, although the nation still faces considerable challenges, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, and manufacturing.

In addition to the GDP report, the NBS also released the Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS) report for Q2 2024, which offers valuable insights into the country’s labor market. This report provides detailed data on employment, unemployment, and underemployment rates, helping to paint a clear picture of the job market in Nigeria. The NBS also published the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November 2024, which tracks inflation rates and the cost of living. According to this report, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 34.60% in November, up from 33.88% in October. This marks a continuation of an upward trend in inflation, reversing the two-month decline observed in September. The increase in inflation reflects ongoing economic pressures, including rising food prices, energy costs, and currency depreciation.

Given the importance of these reports and the critical role the NBS plays in the country’s economic and social landscape, the website hack is a significant disruption. The NBS serves as an authoritative source for economic data that helps guide policy decisions, investment strategies, and public understanding of the nation’s progress. Without access to this data, it becomes difficult for various stakeholders to make informed decisions. The NBS’s efforts to recover the website as quickly as possible are essential not only for restoring public access to these critical reports but also for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the data being disseminated.

While the website is being restored, the NBS has reassured the public that it is taking all necessary steps to address the breach and protect the data on its platform. The incident highlights the growing vulnerability of digital platforms, especially those dealing with sensitive data such as statistical and economic information. In the meantime, the public is urged to refrain from relying on any information posted on the NBS website during this period, as there is a risk that it may have been tampered with during the hack.

The recovery of the NBS website is crucial for the continued functioning of the bureau as the country’s main statistical agency. Once restored, the site will resume its role in providing accurate and up-to-date data on Nigeria’s economic conditions, labor market trends, and other key areas that influence policymaking and national development. It will also continue to serve as a reliable resource for the public, media, and businesses, ensuring that they have access to trusted information that can guide their decisions in a rapidly changing economy.