The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has raised concerns about increasing cyber threats to Nigeria’s public digital infrastructure after recording more than 2,000 attempted attacks on its service portal within a single week.
Speaking in Abuja at a technical and organisational drill for IT administrators across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), NDPC director-general Dr Vincent Olatunji said the incidents reflect the growing exposure of government systems as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
He warned that the scale of attacks highlights the urgent need to strengthen cyber security systems and develop a skilled workforce to protect sensitive national data.
“Within one week, we experienced more than 2,000 attempts on our service portal,” he said, citing the figure as evidence of rising cyber risks.
Cyber security analysts note that government platforms across Africa are increasingly targeted as public services move online.
In Nigeria, concerns have also grown around the digital identity system following fraudulent “National Identity Number correction portals” circulating on social media.
The National Identity Management Commission has warned that such links are phishing attempts with no connection to its official systems. It urged Nigerians to use only verified portals and accredited centres amid ongoing access challenges that have fuelled scams and impersonation.
Olatunji warned that as more MDAs adopt e-governance, Nigeria’s digital attack surface will continue to expand.
He disclosed that over 100 government agencies are being integrated into the national digital governance framework, with 35 ministries expected to be fully digitised soon.
He said while digitalisation improves service delivery, it also increases cyber risks, calling for “cyber warriors” in government.
Olatunji added that compliance with data protection has risen from 4% to over 20%, with more MDAs appointing officers and boosting cybersecurity investment.
He urged agencies to fully implement safeguards under the Nigeria Data Protection Act to protect government systems and citizens’ data as digital adoption expands nationwide.
Share
