The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has announced that foreign cybercriminals arrested in Nigeria will be deported to their home countries once they have served their jail sentences.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day National Cybersecurity Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olukoyede emphasised the increasing threat of cybercrime to Nigeria’s digital economy and revealed plans to address the issue through both international cooperation and local rehabilitation efforts.
Olukoyede began by expressing gratitude to the National Information Technology Development Agency for organising the event, which focuses on building a resilient digital future for Nigeria. He stressed the critical importance of securing the country’s growing digital space.
“I would like to speak to you on a matter that is not only critical to our security but also essential to the economic survival and growth of our nation,” he said.
The conference reflects Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation, which has seen significant advances in mobile banking, e-commerce, digital currencies, and more.
“Nigeria has rapidly embraced digital innovation and transformation. Today, we are home to one of the fastest-growing sectors in Africa. Our mobile banking platforms, digital development systems, digital currency exchanges, and e-commerce activities are changing the economic landscape,” Olukoyede observed.
While acknowledging the benefits of this digital growth, he also highlighted the vulnerabilities it brings, particularly in the financial sector, which remains a prime target for cybercriminals.
“The financial and digital ecosystem is particularly vulnerable, not only because of its susceptibility to the economy but also due to the high value of its data and assets,” he said.
He described the growing sophistication of cyber threats, including phishing attacks, cryptocurrency fraud, and data theft, all of which are undermining Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Cybercriminals are operating across borders, compromising national security, and damaging Nigeria’s global reputation,” Olukoyede warned.
In one of the EFCC’s major successes, Olukoyede revealed that the commission had recently dismantled one of the largest international cybercrime syndicates operating in Nigeria.
“Sometime last year in December, we busted one of the biggest international cyber fraud syndicates in Nigeria, consisting mostly of foreigners, using Nigerian identities to perpetrate fraud. We arrested 194 of them in one operation,” he revealed.
Of those arrested, 182 were foreign nationals, and 146 have already been convicted. Olukoyede confirmed that once they have served their sentences, these foreign cybercriminals will be deported. “After the jail time, they will be repatriated back to their country,” he said.
The EFCC boss also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime. “We have been able to work closely with the FBI, Interpol, and UK authorities. Last month, on the invitation of the FBI and the Cambodian government, we signed an agreement to intensify efforts against international cybercrime,” he said.
This collaboration, Olukoyede stressed, is vital in strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity efforts and ensuring that the country is not used as a base for transnational cybercrime.
In addition to international collaboration, Olukoyede announced plans to establish a Cybercrime Response Academy, aimed at rehabilitating Nigerian fraudsters by redirecting their skills towards productive activities
“We are building a plan now, where we are getting the support of some key development partners to build a 500-capacity cybercrime response centre. We are going to bring in these guys and direct their skills toward the productive sector,” he explained.
He noted that many individuals involved in cybercrime possess valuable technical skills, which, if redirected, could contribute positively to Nigeria’s economy. “Some of these guys are very skilled,” Olukoyede remarked, recalling a conversation he had with one young offender.
“I was sitting in the front, and I was like, why were you arrested? Who studied anthropology at the university? When you imagine the IT skills of these young guys, it’s clear that we can put their talents to better use.”
The Cybercrime Response Academy will provide vocational training and support participants with allowances during their rehabilitation. “We hope this centre will be operational by next year, with 2,500 people. At that time, we will support them with allowances,” Olukoyede confirmed.
The goal is to help reintegrate former cybercriminals into society by teaching them valuable skills for the productive sector. Olukoyede also stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle cybercrime.
“Cybersecurity is not merely a technical challenge. It’s a governance issue. It demands leadership and commitment,” he said.
He called for a unified approach to cybersecurity, one that integrates regulatory agencies, law enforcement, financial institutions, and the general public. “We must work together to prevent cybercrime. When attacks occur, financial institutions must share information with us so that we can respond swiftly,” he added.
Olukoyede urged all parties to act with urgency in securing Nigeria’s digital future.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, called for the urgent need to develop more cybersecurity professionals in Nigeria to safeguard the nation’s growing digital infrastructure.
Abdullahi emphasised that the future of Nigeria’s security and economic prosperity is deeply intertwined with digital resilience. He highlighted the critical importance of preparing Nigeria for a digital future, as technology continues to shape economic growth and national development.
The NITDA DG reiterated that the country’s vision is to create a digitally empowered nation through technological innovation, fostering inclusive growth, and enhancing security.
The NITDA’s mission, he explained, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for economic diversification, which places technological advancement at the heart of national development. “President Tinubu made it clear that economic diversification and inclusivity are paramount to his administration’s renewed agenda,” Abdullahi stated.
He went on to outline the President’s priorities, which include industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, and innovation—key pillars of a strategic roadmap NITDA has designed to propel Nigeria into a digital future.
Abdullahi also discussed the importance of fostering digital diversity and creative talent, emphasising that human capital is at the core of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He explained that to ensure the success of this vision, NITDA has developed a national digital literacy framework with an ambitious target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.
“Digitisation is about digitising everything, and at the core of it is the human capital,” he said, pointing out that it is essential to build a population that is digitally literate and capable of fully utilising technology.
In his address, Abdullahi stressed that Nigeria’s efforts to build a robust technology ecosystem hinge on expanding areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and robotics.
However, while technological infrastructure is crucial, he noted that cybersecurity professionals are a fundamental part of the country’s digital security framework.
“Cybersecurity is about humans. More than 95 per cent of cyber breaches are a result of human errors,” he explained, affirming the need for a skilled workforce to protect Nigeria’s cyber space.
According to Abdullahi, the global demand for cybersecurity professionals is on the rise, but Nigeria faces a significant shortfall in this area. “According to ISC2, globally, we need about 10.5 million cybersecurity professionals. Today, we have only about 5.5 million professionals globally, leaving a gap of about 4.6 million,” he revealed.
He pointed out that Nigeria is currently facing a shortage of cybersecurity experts, with only 25,760 professionals for a population of over 220 million. This means that Nigeria has a ratio of one cybersecurity professional for every 8,000 citizens, compared to the ideal ratio of one professional per 800 citizens.
“This is a deficit of about 250,000 professionals in Nigeria,” Abdullahi stated. He added that closing this gap is crucial to ensuring Nigeria’s digital security. We need to do more in building those skills. How can we encourage more people to become cybersecurity professionals?” he asked, urging stakeholders to focus on expanding education and awareness in this field.
As part of NITDA’s broader strategy, Abdullahi also highlighted the importance of fostering collaboration between government agencies, academia, industry, and international organisations.
“Cybersecurity is not something we can do in isolation,” he explained, noting that more than 175 organisations, including government agencies, private companies, academic institutions, and international bodies, were participating in the conference.
He reiterated that building a resilient digital future requires collective effort, stating, “We need to work as a team to build resilience.”
The NITDA DG also discussed the importance of protecting national critical infrastructure, citing the successful enactment of the Cybersecurity Act, which designates IT infrastructure as a national critical asset. He also spoke about efforts to secure global partnerships for enhanced intelligence sharing in combating cyber threats.
Also at the event was the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who addressed the growing need for enhanced cybersecurity as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation. Ribadu noted that the country’s future depends on building a resilient digital infrastructure capable of resisting cyber threats and supporting economic growth.
He highlighted the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure as Nigeria continues its digital journey. “Our systems that power banks, healthcare, communications, schools, and public services are increasingly targets of cyber-attacks,” he noted.
According to Ribadu, the digital transformation comes with both tremendous opportunity and heightened risk. “Resilience is no longer optional. It is the bedrock of national security and economic stability,” he added, calling for more collaboration among all stakeholders in the cybersecurity ecosystem.
The NSA also mentioned significant steps Nigeria has taken to improve its cybersecurity posture, including the operationalisation of the National Cyber Security Coordination Centre.
“This is a fully active and coordinated, real-time response centre that facilitates intelligence sharing and stakeholder engagement across both the public and private sectors,” he explained.
Also, Ribadu emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to cybersecurity. “We cannot achieve resilience in isolation. It requires a partnership between governments, academia, industry, and international organisations,” he said.
Ribadu also highlighted the importance of strengthening legal frameworks to protect Nigeria’s critical digital assets. “We are reviewing the Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Act to align it with emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.”
In his address, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Salisu, highlighted the importance of eliminating ambiguity in digital transactions through legislative efforts.
He emphasised the need for government agencies to digitise their operations, which would not only improve efficiency but also reduce corruption. Salisu also emphasised the importance of providing lawmakers with proper digital orientation.
“NITDA must make it a point of responsibility to ensure that digital orientation is part of the legislative process,” he said, advocating for better understanding among legislators to effectively address cybersecurity issues.
