By Milcah Tanimu
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has cast doubt on the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) claim that its website was hacked. He described the incident as “questionable.”
In a Thursday statement from his media office, Atiku expressed concern over the cyberattack. The NBS confirmed the breach on Wednesday via its X account. The bureau assured the public that efforts to restore the platform were underway. It also urged users to disregard any information shared on the compromised site until full recovery.
“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. Thank you,” the NBS announced.
Atiku suggested the timing of the breach was suspicious. He noted that it came shortly after the release of the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) data. He called for scrutiny of the situation and questioned whether it aimed to undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s statistical data.
“These are strange times in Nigeria, and it is hoped that the situation is not an underhanded attempt to erode trust in the data essential for planning, development, and research purposes,” Atiku said.
The former vice president warned against manipulating statistics. He emphasized that such actions could damage public confidence in official data.
“Subjecting data released by the NBS to political interference or manipulation is counterproductive and dangerous,” he added.
Atiku’s media team also noted the coincidence of the breach with the recent publication of critical security data. They labeled the incident “suspicious” and cautioned Nigerians about trusting future statistics from the bureau.
Meanwhile, the NBS apologized for the inconvenience caused by the breach. It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s statistical data. The bureau promised accurate updates once its website is fully restored.
