FG Denies Cyberattack on Education Data Platform, Says NEMIS Remains Secure
The Federal Government has dismissed reports of a cyberattack on the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS), clarifying that a recent warning message encountered by some users was caused by a technical configuration issue rather than a security breach.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Education explained that the incident resulted from a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate configuration problem and did not compromise the security, integrity, or confidentiality of data stored on the platform.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, stressed that no sensitive information was exposed and that the platform remained secure throughout the incident.
According to the ministry, the issue was linked to the platform’s secure access certification at the hosting level and did not lead to unauthorised access, data loss, or alteration of records.
“The incident was purely technical in nature and did not involve any unauthorised access to the system, data loss, data alteration, or exposure of sensitive information,” the statement said.
The ministry disclosed that its technical team worked closely with the hosting service provider to resolve the issue shortly after it was detected, adding that normal services have since been fully restored.
It further faulted media reports suggesting that the education data platform had been hacked, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that the report is inaccurate and misleading. At no time was the NEMIS platform hacked, breached, or subjected to any cyberattack. The integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data on the platform remain fully intact,” the statement added.
The ministry noted that browser security warnings and SSL certificate alerts are not necessarily indicators of a cyberattack, explaining that such notifications can arise from routine technical glitches or configuration challenges.
NEMIS serves as the Federal Government’s central education data management platform, supporting the collection, analysis, and administration of educational statistics across the country.
Reaffirming its commitment to data security, the ministry said it continues to implement robust cybersecurity safeguards, system monitoring mechanisms, and periodic security assessments to protect the platform and ensure uninterrupted access for authorised users.