Experts decry rate of cybercrime in Nigeria

An ICT Expert, Mr Charles Nwakocha on Friday decried the rate of cybercrimes in the country, calling on government and other stakeholders to urgently find a way to curtail the menace.

Nwakocha, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that the issue of cybercrime “is an embarrassing and sensitive subject in the country that ought to be dealt with urgently.”

“We must admit that internet is an unavoidable and important development for every nation, and Nigeria should not stand out in such aspect of development.

“In time past, I have seen how the country struggled to meet up with the use of computer and gradually our people have learnt and we now have about 80 per cent of computer literate in the country.

“It is dishearten to see how the youths of this generation tarnish the image of the country all in the name of getting money, they have given a bad name to internet marketing”

“They engage in so many activities like scam, hacking into people’s account, identity theft, financial fraud, website coning and so on, they even engage in some immorality over the internet.

“All these are so rampant in the country; the Federal Government should educate them more on the use of internet and the hazards of internet usage, before it all gets out of control.’’

According to Nwakocha, “in this 21st century, the youths do not even go out of their homes before they perpetrate this fraudulent behavior, adding that with a small phone that can browse they are good to go.’’

“In those days, it was never this easy; if you must browse then you go to a cyber café, which makes it difficult for such act,’’ he said.

He said that anyone who engaged in such act would put the owner of the café at risk of being shut down, which would leave the operator no choice than to avoid such customers.

Nwakocha called on the Federal Government to do more on youth empowerment programmes, especially in the secondary schools where students were on their way to higher institutions.

He said that such empowerment programmes should be done in the universities.

“The reason why they fall into such act is because they get to know about the bad part of internet first, educate them more about the good things internet can do.

“Ignorance leads to vulnerability, and it weakens their sense of reasoning when they are faced with financial challenges that can lead them to such ungodly act,’’ he said.

Also speaking with NAN, Mr Niyi Ojo, expressed concern about the way Nigerians were presumed overseas.

According to him, the last time he was in China to get admission for his younger brother, the university literally said to his face that they do not accept Nigerians.

“I was angry and troubled about their decision but there was nothing I could do, I plead to Nigerians home and abroad to always protect the image the country.

“The need for internet is very high and how it is being used should not be over looked, instead we should invest more in the operations, the challenges involved and what we must do to stop cyber crime.

“Being unemployed do not mean we do not have integrity; government should please tackle the challenges of lack of infrastructure, corruption so that our image does not diminish completely,’’ he said.