The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that on December 18, 2024, hackers gained access to its official website.
The NBS notified the public about the incident and cautioned users to ignore any information from the website until it is completely restored in a message issued through its verified X (previously Twitter) account.
The post read: “This is to inform the public that the NBS Website has been hacked and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored.”
The hacking event happened soon after the NBS released a report showing that between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid kidnappers over ₦2.23 trillion in ransom.
The website is still being worked on as of December 19, 2024. Error messages stating that the site cannot be reached have been seen by those trying to access it.
In Nigeria, the NBS is the main organisation in charge of gathering and sharing statistical data, which is essential for guiding public policy and decision-making. The security of government digital platforms and the possibility of false information spreading during the recovery phase are issues brought up by the breach.
Until it is safely restored, the public is urged to be cautious when dealing with any data or reports from the compromised website and to rely on official NBS communications via approved channels for updates.
