Cybercrime can only be nipped in the bud, if the government has the political will to eradicate poverty, hunger, unemployment, banditry and kidnapping as well as make the economy thriving for small and medium business entrepreneurs.
This was the consensus of Speakers at the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command sixth edition PR Clinic held at Federal Secretariat, TBS on Lagos Island.
A Professor of Sociology, Criminology and Cybersecurity froym the Lagos State University, Ojo, Professor Adedeji Oyenuga, attributed economic instability and greed to increase in Cybercrime with a call for collaboration between sister security agencies to re-strategize to curb the menace.
Professor Oyenuga advised Nigerians to desist from sharing their personal information on Internet, installing untrusted apps and opening of shared links sent by fraudsters who pretend to be friends, noting that technology has advanced for identity theft which could lead to swindling of victim accounts.
On his part, An associate Professor of Sociology from University of Lagos, Dr Waziri Adisa, maintained that crime rate will reduce, if youths are gainfully employed, urging government to increase funding for education.
Other stakeholders and the panelists recommended aggressive Cybersecurity education for Nigerians, retraining of Security officers and improved people oriented policies by government, noting that safe digital space is everyone’s responsibility.
Earlier in an address of welcome, NSCDC Lagos State Commandant, Mr Keshinro Adedotun, said the objective of the PR Clinic was to brainstorm, learn, unlearn and relearn modern technology strategies to combat Cybercrime at the grassroots which is one of the core mandate of NSCDC.
The Commandant represented by his Deputy Commandant, Mr Andrew Afuye, who reiterated the commitment of NSCDC Lagos Command to safeguard the infrastructure and amenities of government, commended the Public Relation Officer, Mr Oluwaseun Abolurin, for the initiative to advance officers’ knowledge on Cybersecurity.
The PR Clinic themed Cybersecurity: A panacea to ending economic sabotage in Nigeria, the role of NSCDC had in attendance representatives from DSS, ICPC, Police, Immigration service, Correctional Center, Computer village, local governments, NIPR, Media, among others.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada