NEWS
Check Point urges Nigeria’ s oil and gas industry to enhance cyber security
The oil and gas industry is a cornerstone of Nigeria’ s economy, contributing about 5.5 % to the country’ s GDP and accounting for around 90 % of its foreign exchange earnings. Beyond its substantial contribution to GDP and foreign exchange earnings, the sector is also pivotal in funding infrastructural development, social programmes, and public services. However, the sector’ s potential is being hampered by pervasive cyber-attacks that face Nigeria as a whole.
According to Check Point’ s African Perspectives on Cyber Security
Kingsley Oseghale
Report 2024, Nigeria continues to face one of the highest frequencies of cyber-attacks in Africa, with organisations being attacked on average 3,759 times per week. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for robust cyber security measures to protect critical sectors including oil and gas, finance, government, and healthcare.
“ Nigeria has the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, with efforts by the current Government to position the country as a global hub for gas and encourage major international investment,” says Kingsley Oseghale, Country Manager West Africa, Check Point Software Technologies.
The pending completion of the Dangote Refinery in 2025, among other industry developments, is expected to boost Nigeria’ s refining capacity by 650,000 barrels a day, potentially reducing reliance on fuel imports and bolstering local economic growth.
“ Given the strategic economic significance of Nigeria’ s oil and gas industry, it is vital that it prioritises its cyber security,” says Oseghale.
Successful cyber-attacks on the energy sector as a whole, can lead to operational disruptions, financial losses, and the compromise of sensitive data.
Globally the oil and natural gas industry is under threat. Just last week, a US joint advisory released by the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, warned industry players to beef up their operational technology and industrial control systems.
South Africa’ s government and military organisations face 3,480 attacks per week
The recent cyberattack on SAA highlights the vulnerability of Government and paragovernmental institutions in South Africa, says Check Point Software Technologies. According to a recent Check Point Threat Intelligence Report, South Africa’ s Government and Military institutions currently face the highest number of cyber-attacks at 3,480 attacks per organisation per week. This is followed by the communications sector which faces an average of 1,062 attacks per organisation per week.
“ Government and military organisations continue to take the brunt of cyber-criminal activities,” says Lorna Hardie, Regional Director: Africa for Check Point Software.
This is in part due to the critical skills shortages impacting government institutions as well as the need for a coordinated and determined effort to secure key systems within the public sector. The growing reliance on digital infrastructure too, coupled with its public-facing nature, makes critical infrastructure prime targets for cyber criminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities.
Check Point Software’ s Q1 2025 Global Cyber Attack Report reveals an almost 50 % surge
Lorna Hardie in cyber threats worldwide with Africa being the most targeted region and education, the industry most impacted globally. Government institutions, globally, with 2,678 attacks per organisation per week, saw a 51 % increase in cyber-attacks over the same period as last year. Ransomware attacks rose by 126 % during the same period.
South Africa with a comparatively modest number of attacks of 1,884 per organisation per week had the most dramatic rise in attacks with a YoY increase of 69 %. Nigerian organisations experience an average of 4,388 attacks per week, 47 % increase YoY, while Angolan organisations are attacked on average 4,727, + 32 % rise YoY. Kenyan organisations are attacked 4,004 times per week on average, + 14 % YoY.
“ The continued rise in cyber-attacks underscores the need for more robust security measures,” Hardie adds. p
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