Nigeria Reports Continent’s Highest Weekly Cyberattacks

Nigeria is now recording the highest volume of weekly cyber threats on the continent, according to new findings that paint a tense picture for businesses trying to stay ahead of digital risks. The latest African Perspectives on Cyber Security Report 2025 from Check Point Software Technologies shows that Nigeria cyberattacks have surged far above both regional and global averages, signalling a shift fuelled by artificial intelligence.

The report notes that Nigerian organisations face about 4,200 attacks per week. This figure is also much higher than Africa’s average of 3,153 and sits 60 per cent above the global rate of 1,963 weekly incidents. The rise is closely linked to AI-enabled intrusions that now automate everything from phishing to impersonation.

Country Manager for West Africa at Check Point, Kingsley Oseghale, warned that AI is now embedded across the entire threat landscape. “AI has become part of the attack surface,” he said. He explained that criminals use AI tools to scale identity theft and phishing. He added that “the only effective response is prevention-first security that combines visibility, governance, and AI protection.”

AI and Identity Risks Redefine Nigeria’s Digital Security

The report outlines how attackers exploit exposed identities and misconfigured cloud systems. This problem affects finance, energy, telecoms, and several government institutions. The spike in Nigeria cyberattacks also ties into broader continental trends. South Africa is battling rising ransomware and botnet infections such as Vo1d and XorDDoS. Kenya has dealt with ransomware targeting its energy infrastructure. Morocco continues to face coordinated disruptions through DDoS and website defacement campaigns.

Five shifts are shaping Africa’s cyber risk. Traditional ransomware has now become data-leak extortion. AI-generated deception has become widespread. Identity has also become the new security perimeter. The report warns that weak cybersecurity may even affect countries’ access to international markets under rules like the EU’s NIS2 Directive. This makes digital resilience not only urgent but also critical for economic growth.

Check Point’s study urges African governments and private firms to embrace prevention-first strategies. These include continuous risk assessment, better regulatory readiness, and stronger collaboration across sectors. Oseghale stressed that organisations must think ahead as technology evolves. “The real challenge is not adopting new technology but securing the trust that underpins it,” he said.

Admissions from analysts show that the pace of AI adoption is faster than many firms can manage. Because of this, experts believe Nigeria’s preparations for modern digital threats must evolve as quickly as the threats themselves.