NBS Website Still Down: Key Insights Three Weeks Following the Cybersecurity Breach
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website has been offline for nearly three weeks following a cyberattack on December 18, 2024. This disruption has raised concerns about the timely release of critical economic data, including the December inflation report scheduled for mid-January 2025.
The website’s downtime has hindered access to essential statistical information, impacting analysts, policymakers, and the public. The NBS had recently published a Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, revealing that Nigerians paid an estimated ₦2.3 trillion in ransom over 12 months, with 65% of households affected by kidnapping incidents.
Despite assurances from the NBS that efforts are underway to restore the website, it remains inaccessible. This prolonged outage has led to speculation about the agency’s cybersecurity measures, especially considering the ₦35 million allocated for cybersecurity in its 2025 budget.
The NBS has not provided a specific timeline for when the website will be operational again. In the interim, stakeholders are concerned about potential delays in data dissemination, which could affect economic planning and analysis.