Security Concerns for Businesses and Organizations based in Nigeria

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Nigeria is without a doubt one of the most exciting places in the world – from its exotic culture and traditions to its beautiful beaches and snow-capped mountains. At the same time, however, Nigeria has also been plagued by political instability and corruption, which has left the country struggling with a range of threats to both businesses and individuals alike. In light of recent events, many international businesses and organizations have decided against establishing their operations within Nigeria. However; if you’re based in Nigeria or planning on moving there to establish your business or organization at some point in the near future: How safe is it for you? Read on for our complete list of security concerns for businesses and organizations based in Nigeria.

Corruption in Nigeria

Corruption is one of the biggest threats faced by businesses operating in Nigeria. In fact, it could be argued that it is one of the key reasons for the widespread instability and inconsistency faced by the country. Although corruption has been a problem in Nigeria for a very long time, it has been getting progressively worse over the last few years. This has led to a lot of international investors being extremely cautious about doing business in the country – as it makes investments extremely difficult and almost pointless. The corruption in Nigeria is based on a system of connections – where those with connections and relationships get preferential treatment. This means that it is very hard to avoid as a business operating within Nigeria’s borders. Although it is certainly possible to avoid corruption by not making connections and not paying bribes, most businesses are still likely to come into contact with corrupt individuals at some point in their career. As a result, they will be faced with the decision to either accept the corruption or attempt to fight it. Fighting it is extremely risky and can lead to harassment, threats, and violence. It is also likely to lead to a loss of profit or even the entire closing down of the business. As a result, many businesses choose to accept the corruption and make small payments in order to keep the process smooth and efficient.

Risk of Violent Crime in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for violent crime. In fact, it is ranked sixth on the list of the most dangerous countries in the world. In recent years, the threat of violent crime has been increasing – especially in major cities. This is because violent crime groups and gangs are increasing in size and power. The risk of sexual assault is also high in Nigeria. This is because of the high rate at which sexual assault is not reported. As a result, it is thought that the number of sexual assaults taking place in the country may be much higher than reported. The risk of robbery is also relatively high in Nigeria. This is especially true for individuals who walk in public places – especially in major cities.

Electrical Outages and Network Issues in Nigeria

One of the biggest issues facing businesses in Nigeria is the high rate at which the electrical grid and internet connection is likely to fail. In fact, these two things are likely to fail frequently and without warning. This is because the electrical grid and internet connection in the country is extremely old and poorly maintained. As a result, it is likely to break down at any given moment. This is extremely problematic for businesses and individuals alike. This is because electrical outages can cause a variety of issues – from minor interruptions in work to major problems with maintaining machines and appliances. Electrical outages also have a significant effect on internet connection – as internet connection is likely to fail if the electrical grid is disrupted. Electrical outages are likely to occur with a high frequency – especially during the wet season.

Protection against DDoS attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are on the rise within the world’s internet. In fact, they have grown in frequency and strength over the last few years – particularly since the rise of the internet of things. This is concerning for businesses based in Nigeria as the country is extremely susceptible to DDoS attacks. This is because internet connection in the country has been described as “sub-par” by IT experts at various times – especially when compared to other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and India. This means that it is much more likely for internet connection in Nigeria to be disrupted at any given moment. This increases the risk of DDoS attacks and makes them more likely to be successful. DDoS attacks are essentially attempts to overload and crash a server – thereby interrupting the use of the services provided by that server. If the server is a website, then the attack will likely result in the website becoming inaccessible – thereby interrupting normal business activities. If the server is a network node or internet exchange point (IXP), then the attack will likely disrupt the entire internet connection in the country. This is likely to result in internet connection being disrupted for a significant amount of time – possibly even a few days.

Conclusion

Nigeria has been facing a lot of challenges over the last decade or so. Political instability, corruption, and violent crime are key issues that have been plaguing the country. As a result, many businesses have decided not to invest in the country or relocate their operations there. However; if you’re based in Nigeria or are planning on relocating there in the near future, it is important to be aware of the above security concerns for businesses and organizations based in Nigeria.