The National Information Technology Development Agency has called on organisations to desist from concealing cyberattacks, following a recent breach that affected a bank and spread to connected platforms, including Remita.

The agency cautioned that failure to disclose such incidents heightens risks across Nigeria’s increasingly interconnected digital ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission has launched an investigation into the breach, which reportedly involved the exposure of sensitive customer data and raised concerns over weaknesses in the country’s digital financial infrastructure.

“Our main focus is deepening synergy among stakeholders,” NITDA Director-General Kashifu Abdullahi said in an interview at GITEX Africa in Morocco.

“The mindset that organisations should hide attacks to protect their reputation must change. They may not need to make incidents public, but they should share intelligence so others can protect themselves.”

He warned that the cyber-threat landscape is becoming increasingly dangerous, driven by artificial intelligence and expanding digital interconnectivity.

“If one organisation is compromised, it can become a launch pad to attack others,” he said, adding that NITDA is working closely with national institutions and its supervising ministry to strengthen coordination.

On Sunday, the NDPC announced that it had launched an investigation into the alleged data breaches, aimed at safeguarding affected individuals and identifying measures to prevent future incidents.

” The investigation aims to ensure that data subjects are protected with appropriate technical and organisational measures. The investigation covers, among other things, the types of personal data involved, the nature and scope of the alleged breach, the risk to data subjects, and the mitigation measures carried out where a breach is confirmed,” the statement read.