Menace of Internet, mobile phone scammers
The estimated annual cost of cybercrime to Nigeria is N127 billion or 0.08 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a 2014 report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, UK. National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj-Gen. Babagana Munguno (rtd) said during the inauguration of the Cybercrime Advisory Council in Abuja two years ago that activities of cyber-criminals have threatened government presence, economic activities, security of Nigerians and vital infrastructure connected to the internet.
The almost daily arrest of internet and mobile phone scammers otherwise known as Yahoo-Yahoo boys by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not deterred them from the nefarious trade. Munguno also said, “The 2014 Annual report of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) shows that in 20132014, fraud on e-payment platform of the Nigerian banking sector increased by 183 per cent.”
Cyber experts say global tracking of cyber-attacks indicate that Nigeria is among countries with high cases of software piracy, intellectual property theft and malware attacks. Monguno said:
“The situation is a serious challenge to our resolve to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that Internet brings, while balancing and managing its associated risks.” He said serious action to protect the nation’s cyberspace assumed urgency due to tremendous growth in number of Nigerians connected to the internet, from less than a million in 2003 to over 80 million in November 2015. He warned that “any serious attack or interference to the operation of Nigerian cyberspace will have negative impact on national economy as well as on public health and safety.”
According to the NSA, the commonest cyber-crimes in Nigeria are computer virus and malware infections, identity theft and privacy invasion, fraudulent electronic transaction, and theft of intellectual property. Other are radicalisation and violent extremism, terrorism perpetrated through cyberspace, website hacking and defacement; and distributed denial of service attack.
Consequently, he said, effectively managing the risk of cybercrime requires government, organisations, private sector and civil society to cooperate with Federal government to develop “ways of countering the threats” including review of the Evidence Act 2011 to accept electronic evidence in court.
Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency [NITDA] Dr Isa Ali Pantami said the agency, as the IT Sector Regulator, has prioritized cyber security as one of its seven strategic focus areas. He said, NITDA has developed a strong partnership with relevant agencies including INEC, CBN, NIMC, NIS, FIRS, CAC, and ONSA in order to secure Nigeria’s cyberspace. He said, “the country has formed a profitable partnership with global technology giants to improve our cybersecurity readiness. Our Cybersecurity Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) has been gathering information and intelligence to counter the activities of devious cybercriminals. The efficient containment strategy of the Agency during the global incidents of WannaCry and Petya virus attacks shows the country’s growing readiness in cyber-security.’’