The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will restart its services on January 15, 2025, following a cyberattack that crippled its systems on December 18, 2024.Â
The attack interrupted public access to essential national data and raised concerns over data security.
The NBS confirmed the resumption date during a workshop organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
The bureau also announced that both the old and new Consumer Price Index (CPI) data will be published soon after operations resume.
In response to the cyber breach, the NBS advised the public to disregard any updates from its platforms during the recovery phase, as it worked to ensure the integrity of its data.
This incident comes amid a rising number of cyberattacks on public and private institutions in Nigeria, with a sharp increase in ransomware incidents affecting sectors such as finance and public administration.
Reports from the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) show that ransomware attacks have escalated in recent years, causing financial losses, including over ₦17 billion in fraud-related damages to Nigerian financial institutions in 2024 alone.
The NBS breach highlights the pressing need for stronger cybersecurity measures.
To address these growing challenges, the Nigerian government has introduced initiatives like the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and set up cybersecurity operation centers.
These steps, alongside partnerships with private companies like Flutterwave, are part of a broader push to enhance digital security.
