The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly criticised comments by the Chairman of the **Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over his claim that about 60 percent of Nigerian tertiary institution students are involved in cybercrime.
In a statement released by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, the student body described the remark as sweeping, unverified, and damaging to the image of Nigerian students.
NANS argued that such a generalisation unfairly criminalises millions of law-abiding students who are focused on education and personal development. It warned that statements of this nature could stigmatise Nigerian youths both locally and internationally, potentially affecting access to scholarships, academic partnerships, and global opportunities.
While acknowledging the existence of cybercrime as a national challenge, the association rejected any attempt to broadly associate students with criminal activity, insisting that issues of crime must be addressed with verified data and proper context.
The group also questioned the basis of the EFCC chairman’s claim, calling for clarity on whether the assertion reflects current trends or weaknesses in existing enforcement strategies.
NANS urged public officials to exercise caution when speaking on sensitive national issues, noting that inaccurate generalisations could undermine public trust and demoralise young Nigerians.
It called on the EFCC chairman to either provide credible evidence supporting the claim, clarify its context, or retract it in the interest of fairness and national unity.
Reaffirming its position, NANS stated that Nigerian students should be recognised as innovators and future leaders, not stereotyped based on the actions of a minority.
