Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has pushed back against the “blanket stereotyping” of Nigerians as cybercriminals, saying that such generalisations misrepresent the West African country.
He said such a move tarnished the reputation of the majority of citizens, who are law-abiding.
“Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling. Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation,” Tinubu said.
Mr Tinubu added that “the association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence” and does not reflect “everyday Nigerians”, whom he described as “hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from artificial intelligence to medicine”.
In 2020, the FBI, the US internal security and intelligence agency, ranked Nigeria 16th among countries most impacted by cybercrime.
Cybercrime costs the country $500m every year, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Underscoring the urgency of combating internet crimes and neutralising the threat caused by other forms of corruption, President Tinubu assured the anti-graft agency of government’s support in its quest to combat these digital offences.
“We must recognize that the Commission’s lawful efforts to bring fraudsters to book are imperative for the overall well-being of our society. The government is aware that our ambitious goal of eradicating internet offences and corruption demands an atmosphere steeped in trust and integrity. We must foster open communication channels and ensure that law enforcement actions align with justice and accountability,” he added.
The Nigerian government had taken several steps to address the significant impact of cybercrime. These measures included the establishment of dedicated agencies and task forces to combat cybercrime, as well as the enactment of legislation to strengthen cybersecurity and law enforcement efforts. Additionally, the government has engaged in international partnerships and collaborations to enhance its capabilities in addressing cyber threats.
How does the Nigerian government plan to address the significant impact of cybercrime, as highlighted by the FBI’s ranking and the estimated annual cost provided by the Nigerian Communications Commission? Visit our Telkom University
The Nigerian government had taken several steps to address the significant impact of cybercrime. These measures included the establishment of dedicated agencies and task forces to combat cybercrime, as well as the enactment of legislation to strengthen cybersecurity and law enforcement efforts. Additionally, the government has engaged in international partnerships and collaborations to enhance its capabilities in addressing cyber threats.
To obtain the most current information on this topic, I recommend consulting recent news sources or official government statements for updates on the Nigerian government’s strategies and initiatives to tackle cybercrime.