President Bola Tinubu’s administration has directed the comprehensive implementation of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention Act, 2024 (amended).
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, instructed all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses, and stakeholders nationwide to ensure strict compliance with this directive.
Ribadu, in a statement released by his Head of Strategic Communications Office, Zakari Mijinyawa, stated that this directive follows the recent high-level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting held in Abuja from April 22 to 23. During the meeting, African leaders emphasized the urgent need to enhance support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity efforts in Africa. They also emphasized the necessity to prevent terrorists and organized criminal groups from exploiting social media and other platforms.
The NSA remarked, “Considering the imperative to protect Nigeria’s digital space, uphold national security and economic interests, and allocate additional resources to combat terrorism and violent extremism, as outlined in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act, all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses, and stakeholders have been duly informed to establish mechanisms for the comprehensive implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.
“Through this amendment, all barriers hindering the full enforcement of the Cybercrimes law have been resolved.”
He further explained that a levy of 0.5 percent of the value of all electronic transactions by specified businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act would be collected and deposited into the National Cybercrime Fund.
He emphasized that all obstacles to the complete enforcement of the Cybercrimes law have been addressed.