Nigerian banks have reassured customers that their funds and personal information remain secure despite a sophisticated global cyber campaign targeting financial institutions and other critical sectors across the world.
The coordinated cyberattack, described by cybersecurity experts as one of the most extensive in recent years, has affected organisations in multiple countries and industries, including banking, healthcare, government, telecommunications, technology, energy and corporate registries. Industry stakeholders stressed that the attacks are not unique to Nigeria but form part of a wider international cyber threat affecting institutions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Despite the widespread nature of the campaign, banking operations in Nigeria have continued without disruption. Financial institutions confirmed that digital banking platforms, payment systems and other essential services remain fully operational, while customer deposits and financial assets are protected.
According to industry sources, banks immediately activated their cybersecurity incident response mechanisms after reports of the global attacks emerged. The institutions have been working closely with financial regulators, law enforcement agencies and international cybersecurity partners to investigate potential threats, strengthen their systems and ensure continuous protection against cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity experts noted that no organisation is completely immune from cyber threats in today’s digital environment. However, they explained that the effectiveness of an institution’s security framework is measured by its ability to detect, contain and respond swiftly to attacks while maintaining uninterrupted services.
Nigeria’s banking sector has consistently invested heavily in advanced cybersecurity infrastructure over the years to safeguard customer information, digital platforms and financial transactions. These investments, combined with strict regulatory compliance and continuous monitoring, have helped strengthen the industry’s resilience against emerging cyber risks.
The latest global cyber campaign comes amid increasing attacks on financial institutions worldwide. Data released by international cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies revealed that cyberattacks targeting the global financial sector increased by 115 per cent last year, with thousands of attempted breaches recorded every week.
Security analysts also disclosed that the current wave of attacks has been linked to sophisticated threat actors responsible for compromising more than 35 organisations across different countries and sectors.
While assuring customers of the safety of the banking system, financial institutions urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against fraudsters who often exploit major cyber incidents to deceive unsuspecting victims through phishing emails, fake phone calls and fraudulent text messages.
Customers have been advised never to disclose sensitive banking information such as passwords, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), One-Time Passwords (OTPs), debit or credit card details, or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone over the phone or through email, regardless of how convincing the request may appear. Banks reiterated that they do not request such confidential information from customers through unsolicited communications.
Customers were also encouraged to avoid opening suspicious emails, clicking unfamiliar links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, as these remain common methods used by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to personal information.
Anyone who notices unusual account activity or suspects fraudulent transactions has been advised to contact their bank immediately using only official communication channels, including verified customer care numbers, official websites, mobile banking applications or physical bank branches.
As governments, businesses and financial institutions around the world continue to strengthen their digital security systems against evolving cyber threats, Nigerian banks have maintained that the country’s financial system remains stable, secure and fully prepared to protect customers’ funds and financial services from emerging cyber risks.
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