Nigeria Content Online

With
the increase in cybercrime in Nigeria, professionals in the Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) sector are emphasising the need for
the government to do more to discourage the crime in order to save the
country’s Internet services. They say the crime affects the reception
of the Internet by Nigerians who mostly view it as a tool for fraud.

Speaking in Lagos
on Friday, Samuel Adeleke, the president of the Internet Service
Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), said that low penetration of
Internet in Nigeria is a major challenge that has affected the
development of the country.

“It is a shame to
say that an average Nigerian is a novice when it comes to the use the
Internet and that is why we condemn the misuse of the Internet because
what most people use it for is to chat, send emails and at best to
download some programmes.

“We are not an
Internet hungry nation; we need to change our attitude in this
direction. There is need for Internet ratification and also the need
for active involvement of Nigeria both in perceptive and as well as
influencing decision makings.”

Cyber fraud

Mr. Adeleke explained that one major factor that affects Internet penetration in Nigeria is cyber crime.

“When we talk of
various aspect of Internet management in and outside Africa, we are
sure to say that Nigeria is not fully actively involved like other
countries such as Ghana or South African in terms of Internet
penetration. There is need to influence public perception of Internet
usage from the bad use. Just a few make good use of it for developing
applications for better life.”

“Our thinking as
Nigerians is that the Internet is only used by a few and those that use
it do it for cyber crime ‘yahoo, yahoo’ rather than trying to find a
way for getting more people to use it for development purposes,” added
Mr. Adeleke.

No policy on Cyber security

Also speaking on
the issue in an email response to NEXT on Sunday, Jimson Olufuye, the
president, Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) said
the lack of policy to tackle cybercrime is a major problem to the
sector.

“Major issues of
cybercrime are identity theft, hacking, spamming, phishing, sabotage
through cyberstalking etc. In Nigeria non- availability of legislative
frameworks to tackle cybercrime and assure cybersecurity are concerns.

“I do not think the
issue can be easily solved; it’s going to be a part of us just like
normal theft, robbery etc. Now is the time for the federal government
and regulators put in place appropriate legislations on cybersecurity
to mitigate the crime. They need to be involved in public enlightenment
on the issue and emphasize the implications of such ventures,” said Mr.
Olufuye.

Earlier this year,
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched a toolkit for
cybercrime legislation in order to reduce cyber-related crimes globally.

Mr. Olufuye urged Nigeria to associate with the Union in making use of the toolkit to check cybercrime in the country.

“I think that the
Nigerian ICT sector should associate with the ITU body in order to join
force by implementing the use the toolkit to reduce cybercrime. There
is need for professionals to advocate for appropriate policies and
legislation against cybercrimes.

‘Digital amnesty’

Mr. Adeleke, however concluded that there is a need to educate Nigerians to avoid such cybercrimes through digital amnesty.

“There in need for
digital amnesty, this is not say that we can handle cybercrimes, but we
want to be able to educate Nigerians on the use of the Internet because
it involves job creation, youth development, public awareness and
providing an alternative use of the Internet,” said Mr. Adeleke.