The Nigeria Information Technology and Shared Services provider, Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), played a critical role in safeguarding Nigeria's digital infrastructure during the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. According to its Managing Director, Muhammad Abubakar, GBB successfully countered an astounding 1.2 million attempted cyberattacks around the February 25th elections. On election day itself, GBB recorded over 200 cyberattacks, a number that geometrically surged to 1.2 million the following day during the crucial collation process, all of which were effectively blocked by GBB's systems.

These efforts by Galaxy Backbone were undertaken amidst significant challenges faced by the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal. The IReV experienced widespread failures, preventing the online transmission of presidential election results and compelling INEC to resort to offline transmission. While Abubakar confirmed GBB's success in repelling numerous cyber threats, he did not specify whether these attacks contributed to the IReV's partial or complete downtime. INEC, however, maintained that the malfunctions were not a result of cybercriminal activity, despite being heavily criticized for the lack of transparency and efficiency in the election process, leading to widespread calls for a re-conducted election.

Muhammad Abubakar highlighted the substantial financial impact of such cyber threats, noting that cyberattacks cost an estimated $4 billion on election day, referencing a single cyberattack cost of $18,000 as of December 2023. In anticipation of these threats, GBB had established a specialized "business community and Cyberspace protection" committee to secure Nigeria's digital space for the general elections, an initiative that extended its operations for a month, including a week post-gubernatorial elections.

The importance of protecting national ICT infrastructure against cyber threats was underscored by President Muhammadu Buhari's formation of a committee, with Prof. Mohammad Abubakar of Galaxy Backbone as a key member. This committee was tasked with advising on measures to protect the country's cyberspace and coordinate computer security centers to intercept potential attacks, particularly during electoral periods.

During a ministerial training session for GBB's Board members and Management Staff in Abuja, themed "positioning the Agency’s Team for Effective Management and Leadership in the 4th Industrial Revolution," the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, emphasized the critical role of continuous training for improving performance, self-evaluation, and self-assessment within the agency. Looking ahead, Professor Abubakar affirmed GBB's commitment to further boost its cybersecurity capabilities. This includes significant investments in Security Management, such as the development of new Security Operations Centres (SOC), the acquisition of new certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, 22301), maintenance of existing ones, and the establishment of a dedicated Security Command Centre. These proactive measures aim to ensure a more secured cyberspace for Nigeria's future.