Gov Ahmed wants enforcement of Cybercrime Acts to prosecute offenders

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for the enforcement of Cybercrime Act to enable law enforcement agencies prosecute offenders of the crime to stem the tide in Nigeria.

The Governor made the call in Ilorin on Wednesday in an address delivered at a two day workshop on Fighting Cyber Crime and Insecurity: Developing Organisational Innovatively.

The workshop was organised by an NGO; Wise World Firm (WWF) in partnership with her international space experts.

Gov Ahmed was represented at the event by his Special Assistant (SA) on Security Matter, Alhaji Amusa Bello.

Ahmed also called on the Federal Government to strengthen the capacities of the law enforcement agencies in the country to prosecute cybercrimes by training them on relevant, digital, forensic and evidence tools.

This, Gov Ahmed said will surely help with the implementation of Cybercrime laws in the country.

Ahmed lamented that Nigeria was ranked third in global internet crime after Unites State and United Kingdom while 7.5 percent of the world’s hackers are Nigerians.

“Based on this, it has become important for us to take cyber security more seriously and find ways to discourage cyber crime in Nigeria.

“In this regard, while the presence of Cybercrime Act is truly noteworthy, enforcement remains a problem,” the Governor said.

Ahmed added that hackers were more ready than in the past to compromise data because of the price it commands at the black market.

“It is predicted that the global cost of cyber crime will reach $2 trillion by 2019, a threefold increase from 2015 estimate.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria has often been linked with these activities, email scams and other nefarious online activities by some individuals have in no small way contributed to marring the image of the country,” he said.

According to Gov Ahmed, cyber crime has been identified as one of the fastest growing transnational organised crime that has affected millions of individuals globally.

“These cyber intrusions are becoming common and sophisticated as governments and companies are targeted for sensitive data and citizens are targeted by fraudsters and identity thieves,” Ahmed added.

He said his government has put in place a robust Information Technology policy that linked the state ministries and department together to ensure the integrity of information.

“Furthermore, through e-governance, the ministries have been to adopt information and communication technology to ensure efficiency, accountability and transparency between government agencies,” he said.

Gov Ahmed was of the opinion that the fight against Cyber crime cannot be fought and won alone as a result of the internet facilities involved.

“There is need for collaboration across countries, areas of expertise and stakeholders groups to efficiently address cyber crime,” he added.

Gov Ahmed therefore called on federal Government to put in place a national public campaign to raise awareness on cyber security and the practice of safe online habit.

In her address, the Managing Director of Wise World Firm, Mrs Christie Dagogo-George expressed worry that the E-infrastructural integrity of Nigeria was in critical state.

“Statistics has shown that between 2006 and 2013, Nigerian government and organisations have incurred losses to cybercrime fraudsters to the tone of $129 billion to online theft.

“Unfortunately, the same crimes go on daily in Nigeria, these phenomena would continue because ICT has come to stay, but program like this can disallow fraudsters from their victims,” She added.

Dagogo-George added that ICT growth and contribution to the economy of the country stood at 11.93% contributing to the GDP.

Papers were presented by an International Cyber Crime expert based in Dubai, Dr Williams Waldo and mr Victor Idonor, Cyber Security Expert.