The Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has directed all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders to put mechanisms in place for full enforcement of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act.
This, according to the ONSA is to secure Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
The head of the NSA’s Strategic Communications Office, Zakari Mijinyawa, stated in a statement that all obstacles had been removed to allow the Cybercrimes law to be fully implemented.
The directive will also counter terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen national security and protect economic interests, he added.
“Arising from the high level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja between April 22 and 23, 2024, African leaders stressed the urgent need for the improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa and taking concrete steps to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups,” the statement read.
“In view of the need to secure Nigeria’s digital space and safeguard national security and economic interests, as well as deploy additional resources to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act, all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders have been communicated by this office to put in place mechanisms for the full implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.
“By this amendment, all impediments to the full operationalisation of the Cybercrimes law have been addressed.
“Consequently, a levy of 0.5 percent of all electronic transactions value by the specified businesses in the Second Schedule to the Act shall be paid and credited into the National Cybercrime Fund,” it added.
Nigeria signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime in 2022, joining 66 other nations, according to the NSA headquarters.
The convention was to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace.
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