Increasing cases of cyber fraud in Nigeria continues to cost the country both internally and globally. In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation ranked Nigeria as the 16th worst country that is being affected by cyber fraud. As a result of this menace, reports claim that Nigeria loses about N127 billion annually, an amount that represents about 0.8% of the country’s gross domestic product in loss of foreign investment. With a high proportion of about 120 million Nigerians who are internet users, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has faced immense struggles at containing this menace.
The level at which internet scams are being perpetrated evidently indicate how socioeconomically degenerated the country has become, and this menace have immensely harmed Nigeria’s reputation in the global scene. It has become an increasingly herculean challenge to travel abroad without being suspected of a crime as Nigerians, due to the high cases of electronic scams that are being perpetrated in Nigeria. Even internal banks in Nigeria have been fatally affected by this menace.
Increase in connectivity responsible for growing scam emails.
Galaxy Backbone (GBB) has however indicated that close to 5 million fraudulent emails are sourced from Nigeria annually. Prof. Muhammed Abubakar, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone pointed this out during a two-days training workshop organized for journalists under the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA). Abubakar stated that the increase in scam emails in Nigeria sources back to the increase in connectivity and internet users in the country. Represented by Mr. Ifedayo Balogun, the Senior Manager of the country noted his concerns over the growing cases of cyberattacks in Nigeria, warning internet users to take precautionary measures to wade off scammers.
He noted that the company has no inbound traffic in regard to the scam emails being sent from Nigeria, because it is coming through a different, transatlantic medium. Mr. Ifedayo further explained that Nigeria’s internet exchange could give a record of the traffic that comes into the country and though they weren’t supposed to advertise their brand then, things have changed as a result of the services being provided to private and public sectors, some of which private and public sectors, some of which are free, and others are not due to the bought third party equipment.
Workshops organized to improve cybersecurity awareness among Nigerians.
It was also noted that the intent of these workshops is to equip journalists with the needed skill sets to report observations in the IT industry, as well as improving cybersecurity awareness among Nigerians. Ifedayo again noted that the company’s partnership with the media would be mutually beneficial, as it gives GBB the needed push for developmental information, most especially for Nigeria’s digital economy drive. NITRA’s president, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Blessing Olaifa noted that the training revealed other statutory responsibilities and actualizations of GBB which were hidden due to lack of publicity. He however appealed to the company to work on accruing more publicity for the crucial services being rendered, especially on the actualization of the Federal Government’s digital economy roadmap.
Engineer Garba Balarabe from the department of research, digital innovation and skills development, noted that every one of the company’s services are available to the general public. He disclosed GBB’s 30 bouquets categorized into 6 services delivered using fibre backbones through ELT and Visat. On the affordability of their services, Engineer Garba stated that the company’s prices are very competitive, as they use competitive analysis with others. He also noted that GBB, though government-owned, is structured to be agile and efficient so as to compete globally.
In fibre, GBB offers the best communication medium faster than 5G.
Garba also noted that the company was working on a strong security proposition. He also disclosed that GBB is governed by the global best practice in the industry and the first government company to be ISMS and SMS certified. On the preparedness of GBB to key into the 5G technology, Garba stated that there has been a lot of misunderstandings around the 5G technology. He explained that the best medium of communication was through fibre, as it offers its operations with the speed of light. He then stated that while 5G is a mobile communication medium, GBB offers a service, through fibre, that is 5 times faster and more efficient than 5G.
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The cyber crimes rate being reported nowadays in Nigeria is alarming. There is urgent need to improve cyber security awareness and a strong security measure proposition to curb these common incessant illegal act.
The growing number of instances of cyber fraud in Nigeria continues to be costly to the economy on both the domestic and international levels.
Since a lot of Nigerians use the internet, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has had a hard time putting a stop to this problem.
This is truly a shameful thing over 5m scam emails been generated from Nigeria yearly due to many negative vibes our youths gets now they believe in getting rich at all means syndrome and this is affecting the s called legitimate business people.
The cyber crime rate in our country is high which affect our country both domestic and international level which is costing us alot improvement need to be made to stop our loss a strong security measure to stop this should be made to stop further lose
The cyber attack on Nigeria is worrisome and it has reached its annoying peak. How can we have 5million scam emails being sent outside Nigeria yearly: that’s just too much. The EFCC and ICPC should be more strengthened to carry out their work successfully.
The EFCC and ICPC should be more strengthened to carry out their work successfully. This cyber crime menace has harmed Nigeria’s reputation in the global scene….It has even become a challenge for people to travel abroad without being suspected of a crime as Nigerians, due to the high cases of scams that are being perpetrated in Nigeria
we are not rated any longer!
The use of fiber, which can perform its functions at the speed of light, was found to be the most effective method of communication.
The cyber crime rate by Nigerians is really crazy. Nigerians are now known for crime almost across the world. This narrative is putting us in bad light. We can’t continue this way
The growing number of instances of cyber fraud in Nigeria continues to be costly to the economy on both the domestic and international levels.
According to a ranking by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nigeria is the sixteenth worst country in terms of the severity of its problems with cyber fraud and that’s too much
It is unfortunate that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has had such a difficult time limiting this threat, given the significant percentage of Nigeria’s population that uses the internet.
The severity of the nation’s socioeconomic decline can be inferred from the proliferation of fraudulent activities on the internet, which have reached epidemic proportions.
Due to the enormous number of incidents of electronic scams that are being committed in Nigeria, it has become an increasingly herculean effort for Nigerians to go outside of the country without being suspected of committing a crime.
Because it is arriving through a separate means that is located over the Atlantic Ocean, the company is not receiving any inbound traffic in relation to the fraudulent emails that are being sent from Nigeria.
The reported frequency of cybercrimes in Nigeria today is really disturbing. The only way to stop these common, never-ending criminal acts is to raise people’s awareness of the need of cyber security and to propose robust security measures.
This is very bad omen to Nigeria both in the country and abroad because the international community will just say all Nigerians are the same,they wouldn’t trust any Nigerians.
Cyber crime in Nigeria is something else. All this crime is giving the country a bad name. Our government is weak in all remification. So many problem that nigeria government don’t even no how to serve.
The rate of cybercrimes executed by Nigerians around the world and also back home is quite unfortunate. If only all that skills can be channeled to something productive and legal
When there is no meaningful jobs in the country people will want to take to crime. Cybercrime is the in thing now in Nigeria because you easy make it with it.
When there are no jobs people tend to take means of making money and that is the case of cybercrime Nigerian youth now take to for money. If the needful are not done by the government we will be seen different forms of crime or the other.