By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as one of the top contenders at the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024, showcasing exceptional performance in the competition.
Organised by ECOWAS, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event brought together cybersecurity professionals from across West Africa.
Competition Overview According to DCG, ICT/Modernisation Kikelomo Adeola, the hackathon consists of two phases.
The first phase involved an online Capture the Flag (CTF) competition via the Sec-Dojo platform, held from August 6 to August 31, 2024.
The upcoming second phase, scheduled for October 14-16, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, will feature an in-person CTF competition designed to foster cross-border collaboration and assess advanced cybersecurity skills.
Led by CSC Abubakar Mustapha Jauro, the NCS team competed against 340 teams from ECOWAS member states, securing an impressive 1,100 points.
The team demonstrated expertise in cryptography, steganography, reverse engineering, web exploitation, and binary analysis, utilising tools like Kali Linux, BurpSuite, and Metasploit.
“The NCS teams’ performance reflects their strategic thinking and resilience in tackling complex cybersecurity challenges,” stated Kikelomo Adeola.
Jauro added, “The ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon has not only sharpened the skills of NCS officers but also noted the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening our cybersecurity framework.”
With continued investment and support, the NCS is poised to play a crucial role in protecting Nigeria’s cyberspace.
As the second phase approaches, anticipation builds for the final leg of the competition, where the best teams will be identified and recognised for their cybersecurity prowess.