Experts seek stronger ties to fight cyber crime

Some experts have called on government, and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) stakeholders to unite in the fight against cyber crime and save Nigerian internet users from financial losses.

They made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side-line of the 2017 Cyber World Conference in Abuja.

Mr Felix Idowu, the Chief Executive Officer of Cyber World Conference, said there was high rate of crime on the internet.

Idowu emphasised the need for government, stakeholders and all well-meaning Nigerians to unite in the fight against cybercrime.

“We need to unite and make people feel the spirit of this campaign against cybercrime because it will go a long way to reduce cyber criminality in our country and the world in general.”

“There is the absolute need for all stakeholders to come together and fight cybercrime; when we unite and have a common focus, we will excel,” Idowu said.

He said that the essence of the Cyber World Conference was to attain global networking in combating cybercrimes across the world.

According to him, the only way to overcome cybercrime in the country is for all stakeholders to network and fight as a team.

Similarly, Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiyi, the Chairman, Governing Board of Nigerian Communications Commission said cyber crime had become a global issue.

The fourth republic senator, who represented Ogun East in the Nigerian Senate between 1999 and 2003, explained that cybercrimes had negative effects on government, businesses and individuals.

“A more recent event in which breach of cyber security can harm a government is the serious allegation that the November 2016 U.S election might have been breach of cyber security.”

“Let’s call attention to last year loss of 100 million dollars to the Central Bank of Bangladesh; fortunately, a good part of the fund was traced to another country.”

“Careless exposure of individual’s 10 digit account number, ATM pin and others information can lead to the disappearance of one’s life savings in the blinking of an eye,” he said.

Durojaiyi called on experts from the insurance, banking, information technology sectors and other relevant stakeholders to find a common ground to unite to fight cybercrimes and bullies.

He said that individuals should safeguard and protect sensitive information relating to their bank accounts and other codes.