The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, says cybercrime commonly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ is not a crime against individuals and businesses but an assault on collective integrity, economic stability and the future of Nigerian youth......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Speaking during the unveiling of 24- hour Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday in Abuja,
Tinubu noted that the theme of the event “Alternatives to Cybercrime: Optimizing Cyber Skills for National Development,” resonated deeply with the current challenges cybercrime posed not only in Nigeria but across the globe.
According to her, “Cybercrime is not a crime against individuals and businesses. It is an assault on our collective integrity, economic stability and the future of our youth. ”
She praised the EFCC for devotedly seeking solution to the lingering menace.
She stated that Nigeria was confronted with the reality of the dangers and new vulnerabilities the digital age are posing to humanity.
“It is therefore crucial that we address these challenges head on and explore not only the harmful consequences of cybercrimes but also the sustainable alternatives that can redirect our youths towards productive and positive endeavours. With young people accounting for more than 60 per cent of our population, the involvement of youths in cybercrime is a threat to the nation’s quest for economic stability,” she said
On his part, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede observed that “the menace of cybercrimes, like most economic and financial crimes, is a burning challenge that we cannot deny, ignore or wish away.”
The national discourse on cybercrime, the EFCC boss said, was necessitated by “the overarching need for us to articulate opinions and build greater strength against the scourge of cybercrimes. This time around, we are not only interrogating the problem, we are aggregating workable solutions to it.”
Further in his speech, he observed that “The enormity of challenges posed to us as individuals and nation by cybercrimes are grievous. As individuals, youths’ involvement in these crimes is distorting and corrupting acceptable family values.
The tendency towards quick riches no longer positions our young people for enterprise, resourceful intellectual aspirations and technological innovations.”
In financial terms, Olukoyede stated that 2,328 (Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-eight) cases of cybercrime occur daily globally with a global loss projected to hit $10.5 trillion by 2025. “Projections by multiple sources show that the global loss to cybercrimes may reach a staggering $10.5 trillion by 2025, with approximately 2,328 (Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-eight) cases occurring daily. The implication of all these is that, if left unchecked, cybercrimes portend grave dangers to the entire world. These are the realities stoking the Commission’s fight against these crimes.”