Organisations in Nigeria Face 4,701 Weekly Cyber Incidents, Highest in Africa

Nigeria is facing a new wave of cyber pressure as organisations across the country recorded the continent’s highest number of cyber-attacks in January. Fresh data from Check Point Research shows that Nigerian companies experienced an average of 4,701 attacks per organisation each week, marking a 12% jump from the same period last year. The figure also rose from the 4,622 attacks logged in December 2025, highlighting the fast-growing intensity of threats targeting Africa’s biggest economy.

Although cyber-attacks rose worldwide, with global organisations facing an average of 2,090 weekly incidents in January, Nigeria’s numbers stood out sharply. The country’s attack volume was far beyond the African average of 2,864 weekly incidents, placing it ahead of Angola, Kenya and South Africa.

A widening security gap across the continent

The report showed that Angola followed closely with 4,512 weekly attacks, although the country saw a 7% year-on-year decline. Kenya recorded 2,172 attacks, while South African organisations faced 2,145 weekly incidents, which represented a notable 36% rise. These differences revealed how threats are evolving unevenly, even as the continent as a whole reported a slight annual decline.

Across Africa, the most targeted sectors were Government, Financial Services, and Consumer Goods and Services. These industries manage sensitive transactions and citizen data, making them prime targets for attackers seeking high-value information.

Experts warn of new risks driven by AI

Security specialists at Check Point Software Technologies stressed that the surge reflects changes in both technique and intention. Ian van Rensburg, who serves as Head of Security Engineering for Africa, noted that “cyber-attacks are not only increasing but becoming more refined and opportunistic.” He warned that organisations embracing digital transformation must match their progress with stronger defences.

He added that “unchecked GenAI usage is opening new blind spots for organisations. Prevention first, real time protection powered by AI is the only effective way to stop attacks before they cause operational or financial damage.”

The report highlighted that one in every 30 Generative AI prompts submitted from corporate networks carried a risk of exposing sensitive data. According to the findings, 93% of organisations using GenAI tools encountered similar exposure threats. Many prompts included internal files, identifiers, customer data, and proprietary code. Companies also used at least 10 different AI tools monthly, often without any formal oversight, which increased the likelihood of leaks and ransomware infiltration.

Growing threats pressure Nigeria’s fast-digitising sectors

The fragmented use of AI tools has become a particular concern in Nigeria, where digital adoption in banking, fintech, telecoms and public services is expanding quickly. Security analysts believe the combination of rapid innovation and weak oversight could magnify vulnerabilities if organisations fail to adapt.

Globally, the Education sector remained the most affected industry in January, facing 4,364 weekly attacks per organisation, while Government and Telecommunications institutions followed with thousands of incidents each.

For Nigeria, the rising threat level has become a reminder that digital progress requires stronger protections and better governance. Industry experts say the country must now act quickly to prevent the growing cyber tide from overwhelming critical systems.