President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday rejected the ‘cybercrimes haven’ name tag for Nigeria.
He said that such conclusions undermine majority of the citizens who maintain the principles of integrity and diligence.
The President decried mislabel of Nigeria as a nation with one of the highest prevalence of cybercrime and other forms of corrupt practices. He spoke through the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at a public engagement on “Youth, Religion and the Fight against Corruption” and the launch of “Inter-Faith Manual and Fraud Risk Assessment Project” for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, at the Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja.
The event, organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is a multi-dimensional stakeholders’ involvement in the fight against economic and financial crimes.
The President regretted that over the years, the entire populace had been linked with internet crimes without statistical proof, a development he noted, was out of tune with the way of life of the typical Nigerian citizen.
A statement issued by Shettima Spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Tinubu as noting that on the contrary, Nigerians are meticulous, authentic citizens who have been making significant contributions to innumerable fields of endeavours around the world.
The statement reads: “Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling. Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation. The association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence and does not align with the sociology of everyday Nigerians.
“Our nation comprises hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from artificial intelligence to medicine. While we reject blanket stereotyping that undermines the majority upholding principles of integrity and diligence, we must face the fact that we function in an interconnected world where cybercrimes have evolved into a global phenomenon. This poses a threat not only to our nation, but to the entire world.”
In his speech titled: “Youth, religion and our battle against corruption: A call to action,” the President applauded the EFCC “for remaining a moral compass, persistently rousing the nation’s conscience.”
He said through its operations, the anti-graft commission has remained vocal in “telling the world that Nigeria is neither complicit nor complacent in confronting the menace of corruption”.
Underscoring the urgency of combating internet crimes and neutralising the threat caused by other forms of corruption head on, the President assured the anti-graft agency of the government’s support in its quest to combat these digital offenses.
“We must recognise that the Commission’s lawful efforts to bring fraudsters to book are imperative for the overall well-being of our society. The government is aware that our ambitious goal of eradicating internet offenses and corruption demands an atmosphere steeped in trust and integrity.”
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