Mofehintoluwa Koye-Ladele

caught and despite the attempts to profile them in an ethnic manner, the restatement of the evidence before our eyes through the daily experience of being Nigerian is that this variety is present in every tribe. The sun has only shone on some who were likely members of the same syndicate hence their similar ethnicity.

The FBI has stated that between January and July 2019, 1.1billion dollars made its way down the pipe to the hands of internet fraudsters. This is a lot of money especially as not much legally traded by Nigerians can rank on such pedestal of economic value. However, the danger in a country losing her bulk of active and productive youths to fraudulent activity instead of productive ventures is imminent. It would mean a decline in other sectors and as such the menace must be stemmed.

The rise in the number of those who have taken to internet fraud cannot be disconnected from the fact that a lot of Nigerians have slid into poverty as the statistics suggest. The nation which has a population above or around 200 million also doubles as the poverty capital of the world. There must exist a connection between deepening poverty and internet fraud especially as there is also a high unemployment rate. The role greed plays in luring people into internet fraud cannot be exempted as children from rich families have been observed to also take to fraud.

The videos presently in circulation where one of the accused is spraying dollars and dancing to music reflect what the Nigerian youth has begun to consider as the ideal lifestyle where he can throw money into the air while doing little. The change in the values and priority of youth calls for serious concern.

While the FBI list has now taken the stage, another list of interest to Nigerians before it is the composition of the federal cabinet. It is worrisome that this cabinet reflects nothing clearly in form of ideology or agenda which the Muhammadu Buhari-led government intends to pursue. The appointments do not show any pattern in their choice that would express in clear terms what the government intends to achieve.

One of the ministers, a former Governor in Osun State has even expressed his ignorance on his intended office. Former Gov. Rauf Aregbesola claims he knows nothing about the Ministry of Interior. The complaints range from the ministers not being appropriate for their portfolios and those who have been reappointed not being stellar enough in their first coming.

The urgency of dissuading internet fraud amidst other vices rest on the success of government and the team which has been constituted in the federal cabinet can be viewed as a doubtful team. Despite these doubts, the cabinet and her successes will reduce the lists which are coming from everywhere in the world. From Indonesia for drugs, from Dubai for robbery, from Saudi Arabia for drugs and from all corners of the globe are the reports of Nigerian misbehavior. In order to stem this tide, a change of the national fortunes for good will play a huge role and this cabinet must deliver as it has come to stay regardless of the complaints of Nigerians.