In a significant development the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, voiced deep concern about the substantial financial losses Nigeria is incurring due to the surge in cybercrime activities within the country.
This statement was made during the inauguration of a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Cybercrime Act of 2015 held at the Senate Complex in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, highlighted how cybercrime has evolved into a severe threat to the Nigerian economy. He emphasized that this menace has been escalating, primarily stemming from the actions of individuals with malicious intentions who initiated cybercrime activities in Nigeria several years ago.
The Senate President lamented that these early perpetrators engaged in a wide array of illegal activities, including hacking, identity theft, fraud, harassment, and cyber-terrorism.
These actions, he noted, inflicted not only substantial financial losses on the nation but also posed serious threats to personal privacy, disrupted critical infrastructure, and eroded trust in digital systems.
“In this age of rapid technological advancement and widespread internet usage, cybercrime has emerged as a grave menace to our society, economy, and personal security,” Akpabio stated. He underscored the urgent need to strengthen existing laws related to cybercrime prohibition and prevention.
“It is imperative that we establish a comprehensive legal framework that includes strengthening the prosecution of cybercriminals,” he added. “In the past, certain individuals with misguided intentions exploited our weak cybercrime laws, thereby tarnishing the reputation of our country.
“They engaged in a wide array of illegal activities, such as hacking, identity theft, fraud, harassment and cyber terrorism. These crimes not only inflicted significant financial losses upon our country, but also invaded our privacy, disrupted critical infrastructure, and eroded trust in our digital systems,” the Senate President said.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Shuaib Salisu, echoed Akpabio’s concerns and explained the necessity of amending the Cybercrime Act of 2015. Salisu emphasized that the proposed amendments aim to bolster the operation of Nigeria’s digital space. He called on all stakeholders to actively contribute to the development of the amended legislation.
Shehu Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, also weighed in on the matter. He noted that the proposed amendments would empower anti-corruption agencies and the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute offenders engaged in cybercrime.
The public hearing on the amendment of the Cybercrime Act 2015 represents a critical step towards addressing the growing threat of cybercrime in Nigeria.
The Senate President and various committee chairs stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to strengthen the legal framework and combat cybercriminal activities, safeguarding the nation’s economy and personal security.
