• Surge in DDoS attacks targets government and private platforms
• More complex methods make attacks harder to detect and contain
• Experts warn of broader risks, including ransomware and phishing

Nigeria faces a rise in cyberattacks that increasingly threaten its digital infrastructure.

The national Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) warned last week of a sharp increase in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting both government platforms and private sector services.

These attacks overwhelm systems with massive volumes of traffic, which can disrupt or shut down essential services. According to ngCERT, attackers now use more advanced methods that combine multiple attack vectors and rely on networks of compromised devices, known as botnets. Some operations also use amplification techniques to increase the volume of malicious traffic directed at targets. This shift makes attacks harder to detect and contain.

The agency said these attacks often involve multiple techniques and can occur alongside other malicious activities, which raises risks for national resilience and economic stability.

The rise in DDoS attacks has raised growing concern. Service disruptions can affect key sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and public services, with direct consequences for economic activity and user confidence. They can also serve as a diversion for more complex cyber operations, including data theft and system breaches.

Beyond DDoS activity, Deloitte warned in its “Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook 2026,” published in January, that ransomware and phishing attacks are likely to increase this year. The firm links this trend to wider access to tools that were once limited to experienced cybercriminals. These tools are now available to less skilled attackers.

Small and medium-sized businesses, schools, hospitals, and public institutions face particular risk, especially when cybersecurity budgets remain limited.

In response, ngCERT urges organizations to activate incident response procedures, work with internet service providers to filter malicious traffic, and deploy anti-DDoS solutions. The agency also calls for regular system updates, including patching known vulnerabilities, strengthening infrastructure, and maintaining continuous traffic monitoring. It asks organizations to report any incidents.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, Nigeria ranked in Tier 3 of the Global Cybersecurity Index in 2024, with a score of 82.4 out of 100. Since then, the country has launched several initiatives and partnerships to strengthen its cybersecurity posture.

Adoni Conrad Quenum