Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the alleged hack of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website. Atiku stated that this latest incident adds to the list of troubling developments under Tinubu’s leadership.

The NBS recently released a report revealing concerning security statistics, including the murder of about 614,937 Nigerians within one year. The report, titled The Crime Experienced and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024, also indicated that over 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped, with a staggering N2.2 trillion paid as ransom, averaging N2.7 million per kidnapping.

In a statement from his media office, Atiku emphasized the critical importance of reliable data for national development and research. He questioned the timing of the alleged hack, which occurred shortly after the release of these alarming security statistics. Atiku suggested that the hack could be an attempt to discredit the credibility of the NBS data, which is crucial for informed policymaking.

Atiku expressed concerns that the current administration’s actions might undermine the trust in data used for planning and development. He hopes that this situation does not reflect an attempt to weaken the integrity of essential national statistics, which are vital for the country’s progress.