The Senate has reiterated its commitments to ensure Nigerian cyber space is well protected and secured from Cybercrime activities for socio economic growth.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT Cybercrime, Senator Afolabi Salihu, gave the assurance during an oversight visit to the Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
In his remarks during the visit, the Chairman stated that the objective of the oversight was to identify the constraints of the Centre and determine how the National Assembly can assist in effectively and efficiently fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
He said that a lot of criminal activities have been on the rise through the use of technology and cyberspace.
Criminals, such as kidnappers, bandits, and cybercriminals, now have the audacity to use their mobile phones to demand ransom or conduct transactions using cyber systems.
Senator Afolabi said that these and many more cases of insecurity had forced the committee to visit the center for the first time to find out if there was anything the committee could do to assist in efforts to reduce criminal activities using technology and cyberspace in Nigeria.
The Chairman believes that the Police Force National Cybercrime Centre is the only security agency constitutionally mandated for the internal security of the nation.
The committee is here to observe the center’s efforts to combat the increasing cybercrime threat.
Additionally, they aim to identify areas where the National Assembly can provide support to enhance their operations for the country’s development.
He said ” we have listened to them and the committee is determined to support them in what ever way possible to be able to address the security challenges through the use of server space”.
The Chairman added that not only is the committee ready to support the center in achieving economic development through ICT, but also in reducing the cost of governance and providing capacity building to our burgeoning youth through emerging technologies.
Senator Afolabi Salihu also said the committee was ever ready to collaborate with other security agencies in ensuring that Cyber criminality is reduce for sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
In his response, however, the Director of the center, CP Uchea Ifeanyi, stated that in cybercrime, perpetrators typically use the available digital resources for their criminal activities.
He cautioned that whenever such incidents occur, individuals should promptly report them to the center for immediate assistance.
As for the function of the Agency, CP Uche Ifeanyi said the centre apart from its constitutional mandate to protect lives and properties, it also protect other agencies such as National Assembly and the Cyber space of Nigeria from internal and external aggression.
He outlined some of the challenges facing the agency, including the need to review laws to domesticate the services of foreign telecommunication companies operating in the country, as well as budgetary provisions to maintain the center in terms of training manpower, equipment maintenance, and updating software for continued success.
He promised to continue to do the best in ensuring the Nigerian Cyber space is adequately secured from cyber criminals.
Cov/Bashir M
