Advanced Persistent Threats and Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure: Assessing Vulnerabilities, Attack Patterns, and National Security Implications December 2022
Department of Infrastructure and Engineering, TZ Engineering Limited, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Frontiers in Science and Technology Research, 2022, 03(02), 063-077.
Article DOI: 10.53294/ijfstr.2022.3.2.0061
Publication history:
Received on 18 November 2022; revised on 21 December 2022; accepted on 24 December 2022
Abstract:
Nigeria is no exception to the advancing risks of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Threats to National Security from APTs: An Evidence from Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure Perspective is a detailed report that sheds light on the vulnerabilities of Nigeria’s critical infrastructure sectors to APTs and their national security implications. The report also looks at past APT attacks in Nigeria as well as global and regional patterns. Furthermore, the study systematically examines potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors that could be exploited by APTs in Nigeria’s critical infrastructure sectors and provides an in-depth analysis of the national security implications of such intrusions. In doing so, the report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the APT threat landscape in Nigeria. The information gathering for this study involves a structured search of threat intelligence reports, industry analyses, government publications, and case summaries. The search terms include: advanced persistent threat, Nigeria, APT, national security, critical infrastructure, cyber-attack, cyber-crime, hacking, cybersecurity, national implications, national risk, regional pattern, state and non-state actors, regional attack, and global attack. The report synthesises recurring vulnerabilities, such as inadequate network segmentation, weak authentication mechanisms, legacy system exposure, and insufficient cyber-resilience capabilities across the nation’s critical infrastructure landscape. Findings have shown that APTs are a growing concern for the country, as Nigeria is becoming more vulnerable to these types of attacks due to its digitising economy and weak security posture. The potential national security implications of successful APT attacks include disruption of critical services, economic impact, erosion of public confidence, and vulnerability to hybrid warfare.
APT actors with geopolitical, organisational, and financial motivations are increasingly targeting the nation. As a result, the study provides a security-oriented perspective to better understand APTs in Nigeria. It also highlights the need for a multi-layered national defence strategy that encompasses governance reforms, technical hardening measures, proactive monitoring, sector-specific resilience initiatives, and enhanced public-private threat intelligence sharing.
Keywords:
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs); Critical Infrastructure Protection; Cybersecurity; National Security; Nigeria; Threat Intelligence; Cyber-Resilience; Attack Patterns; Vulnerability Assessment
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