The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has distinguished itself at the 2024 ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon, emerging as one of the top-performing teams in the prestigious competition. Organized by ECOWAS in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event brought together cybersecurity experts from across West Africa to tackle advanced cyber challenges.
Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, ICT/Modernization, Kikelomo Adeola, highlighted that the competition is split into two phases. Phase 1, held from August 6 to August 31, 2024, was an online Capture the Flag (CTF) competition hosted on the Sec-Dojo platform. Participants engaged in simulated cybersecurity challenges, focusing on solving cryptographic puzzles, steganography, web exploitation, and more. The second phase, set for October 14-16, 2024, will be held in Abuja and will feature an in-person competition designed to foster cross-border collaboration and test advanced skills.
Adeola praised the NCS team for their outstanding performance in the first phase, noting that their results reflect their strategic thinking and resilience. The NCS team, led by Chief Superintendent of Customs Abubakar Mustapha Jauro, competed against 340 teams from ECOWAS member states and scored an impressive 1,100 points.
The NCS team showcased exceptional skills using tools like Kali Linux, BurpSuite, and Metasploit, excelling in areas such as reverse engineering, binary analysis, and web exploitation. “Their success highlights the technical expertise within the NCS and underscores the need for enhanced resources to further elevate their capabilities,” Jauro stated.
The ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon aims to strengthen regional cybersecurity collaboration and preparedness, a mission Jauro emphasized as crucial to Nigeria’s evolving cybersecurity landscape. “The competition has sharpened the skills of NCS officers and reinforced the importance of regional cooperation in safeguarding our cyberspace.”
As the final phase of the hackathon approaches, anticipation builds for the culmination of the event, where the best cybersecurity teams in the region will be recognised for their efforts and expertise. The NCS remains poised to play a leading role in enhancing Nigeria’s cybersecurity infrastructure, with continued support and investment.
