NDPC Records Over 2,000 Cyber Attacks on Service Portal in One Week, Commissioner Reveals

The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has disclosed that hackers launched more than 2,000 attacks on the commission’s service portal within a single week. Olatunji made this known on Monday in Abuja during a Technical and Organisational Drill on Data Protection Measures for IT Administrators across Ministries, Departments and Agencies organised by the NDPC. 

He said the attacks underscore the urgent need for government institutions to strengthen their cyber defences and build the human capacity required to protect sensitive information and digital infrastructure. He revealed the figure by stating that within one week, the commission experienced more than 2,000 attempts on its service portal.

The NDPC boss explained that cyberattacks can be motivated by different objectives, ranging from attempts to embarrass government institutions to financial extortion and other malicious activities. He noted that government organisations have increasingly become targets of cybercriminals as more public services move online, and while no major impact on the economy or citizens’ data has been recorded yet, there should be no waiting until a significant effect occurs before taking action.

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He said a major announcement was made last week that will see 35 ministries fully digitalised within the next few weeks, with some already fully digitalised and over 100 government agencies already involved. Olatunji warned that greater digital integration also increases exposure to cyber risks, as many of these integrations are driven by technologies developed by private sector organisations. He called for the development of cyber warriors capable of defending government systems and protecting citizens’ data, and said the training programme aligns with key pillars of the commission’s roadmap, including human capital development and technology ecosystem growth.