CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari has disclosed that Nigeria has been ranked third in global internet crimes coming after United States of America and United Kingdom respectively.
The Senator also revealed that the country loses about #127 billion annually to cybercrime, while the figure represents 0.8% of the country’s GDP.
Buhari in a lecture delivered at the Lead City University Faculty of Law lecture recently in Ibadan entitled ‘Legislative Commitment and Cybercrime’ maintained that the figure will continue to grow unless the National Assembly act fast and intensifies its efforts in preventing this unwholesome act.
In his words, “Nigeria has been ranked third in global internet crimes coming after United States of America and United Kingdom respectively. In the year 2015, the Information Security Society of Nigeria (ISSAN) revealed that 25% of the cybercrimes in Nigeria are unresolved and that 7.5% of the world’s hackers are Nigerians”.
“In 2014 alone, EFCC reported that customers in Nigeria lost about 6 billion naira to cyber criminals, while NDIC (2015) showed a 183% increase on the e-payment platform in Nigerian banks”.
He continued, “In a similar development, the CBN (2015) report showed that 70% of attempted or successful fraud/forgery cases in Nigeria banking system were perpetrated via the electronic channels. Banks in Nigeria have lost approximately #159 billion to electronic frauds and cybercrime between 2000 and 2013 and the impact on the nation’s economy and cash less policy is significant”.
The lawmaker further observed that the absence of enabling laws and appropriate law to guarantee the legality of online transactions, continue to create fear in the mind of users and potential online users.
Scanning the legislative commitment of the National Assembly in the past, the former commissioner who is currently representing Oyo North Senatorial District said “the commitment of National Assembly of Nigeria in the past can be said to have not been fruitful and successful. Until 2015, there were over 100 IT related bills before the Nigeria Legislature – the National Assembly, none of which was passed into law”,
He, then attributes the creation of standing committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cybercrime by the Senate as part of commitment by the 8th Assembly towards curbing cybercrime in the country.
Similarly, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseeni in his lecture on ‘Kidnapping’ averred that crime cannot be totally eradicated in the society, demanding from the public to always support the government in its bid to ensure safety.
“Security is the most expensive thing to do in a country but we can also help by saying positive things about our country, saying negative things about the country demoralize the courage and attitude of those who want to fight crimes in the society”, he counselled .
