Nigeria has emerged as the most targeted country in Africa in terms of cyberattacks, with organisations facing an average of 4,701 attacks every week. This was revealed in the latest Global Threat Intelligence Report released by Check Point Research.
According to the report, the 4,701 weekly attacks represent a 12 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The figure also rose from 4,622 attacks recorded in December 2025, showing that cybercriminal activities in the country are steadily increasing. The findings suggest that attackers are becoming more persistent and may be targeting Nigeria because of its growing digital economy and expanding online services.
Among the four African countries surveyed in the January report, Nigeria recorded the highest number of cyberattacks. The country’s figure is significantly higher than the continental average of 2,864 attacks per organisation per week. This means that businesses and institutions in Nigeria are facing almost twice the number of attacks compared to many others across Africa.
Globally, organisations experienced an average of 2,090 cyberattacks per week in January. This represents a three per cent increase from December and a 17 per cent year-on-year rise. The steady global increase highlights the growing threat posed by cybercriminals worldwide, as more businesses and government institutions rely heavily on digital platforms and online systems.
In comparison to Nigeria, Angola recorded 4,512 weekly attacks per organisation. However, Angola’s figure reflects a seven per cent decline compared to last year. Kenya recorded 2,172 weekly attacks, showing a sharp 41 per cent decrease year-on-year. Meanwhile, South African organisations faced 2,145 attacks per week, representing a significant 36 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
Although Africa recorded an overall average of 2,864 cyberattacks per organisation weekly — a six per cent decline year-on-year — the general reduction hides serious country-level differences. While some nations experienced decreases, Nigeria and South Africa saw notable increases, raising concerns about cybersecurity preparedness in those countries.
The Head of Security Engineering for Africa at Check Point Software Technologies, Ian van Rensburg, warned that the latest figures show not only a rise in the number of attacks but also a change in their level of sophistication. He noted that cybercriminals are using more advanced techniques, making it harder for organisations to detect and prevent breaches.
Experts believe that Nigerian organisations, including financial institutions, government agencies, telecom companies and educational institutions, must strengthen their cybersecurity systems. They are also urging companies to invest in staff training, threat monitoring tools and stronger data protection policies to reduce vulnerabilities.
With digital transformation accelerating across Africa’s largest economy, cybersecurity experts say proactive measures are urgently needed to protect sensitive data, maintain public trust and safeguard national digital infrastructure from growing threats.
