The Nigerian government has announced major collaborative efforts to combat cybercrime through the Ministry of Communications Digital Economy, Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, government officials revealed plans for a National Cybersecurity Conference scheduled for July 2025, emphasizing the need for global partnerships in tackling digital crimes.

Sa'ad Abubakar, the National Cybersecurity Coordinator from the Office of National Security Advisor, stressed that fighting cybercrime requires "the whole of society and the whole of the government approach."

"Apart from the deterrent approach whereby government agencies such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest individuals, take them to court and prosecute them, the youth can be nurtured into better citizens who can showcase their capacity in better ways and be useful to the country," Abubakar stated.

Borderless Nature of Cybercrime

NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, highlighted the borderless nature of cybercrime, noting that ongoing work is being done on the Cyber Crime Act.

"We want to build a stronger global collaboration with the global cyber security ecosystem, because cybercrime doesn't respect borders," Abdullahi explained. "Someone can commit crime from Ghana using Nigerian ID in the US. So you can look at him physically in a different jurisdiction, pretending to be in another jurisdiction, committing the crime in another jurisdiction."

He emphasized that without international synergy and cooperation, addressing these challenges would remain difficult.

Creating Positive Alternatives

The government also plans to provide alternatives to cybercrime for Nigerian youth. Abdullahi acknowledged that while Nigeria has talented youth, many lack opportunities to channel their abilities positively.

"Here we have the talent, but they don't know how to use that talent positively, so exposing them to these kinds of opportunities will open their minds to channel the talent for a positive impact," he said.

The upcoming National Cybersecurity Conference will feature hackathons, training sessions, networking opportunities, and platforms for youth to display their talents. The government aims to connect participants with potential investors and mentors to help develop solutions.

This initiative comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with its reputation in the global cybercrime landscape, with authorities working to clean up the country's cyberspace and redirect tech-savvy youth toward legitimate digital opportunities.