President Bola Tinubu has pledged to empower the Nigeria Police Force with more weapons, training, and personnel to boost its capacity to fight crimes.
At the inauguration of the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre and the Nigeria Police Force Resource Centre in Abuja.
Tinubu said: “The pledge would boost the number, quality and preparedness of personnel of the Nigeria Police. The building and inauguration of the NPF-NCCC were to increase national security in line with the policy objectives of reforming the Nigeria Police Force.”
He noted that Nigeria has witnessed a rise in threats posed by cyber criminals, online financial fraudsters, and cyber terrorists, saying: “Nigeria had witnessed a rise in threats posed by cyber criminals, online financial fraudsters and cyber terrorists who use the internet to coordinate and carry out their destabilising and nefarious activities.”
Tinubu emphasized that the rapid emergence of technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the advent of 5G technology have contributed to widening the scope and diversity of cyber-based threats.
He stated that the Federal Government is taking major policy decisions to review the National Cybercrime strategies to mitigate the multifaceted threats posed by cybercrimes, saying:
“The objective is to usher in, a bright future, driven by prosperous cyberspace and digital economy into the country.”
Tinubu urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, to effectively utilize the facilities at the NPF-NCCC.
He said: “It is my hope that this centre will complement the Office of the National Security Adviser in the protection of the country’s national infrastructures by enabling a greater level of screening of online activities.”
He added: “The security situation in the country is a complex blend of threats posed by well-organised non-state actors. Addressing it requires a concerted approach by all stakeholders within the security architecture. I, therefore, called for the elimination of interagency rivalries and urge the law enforcement agencies to embrace a coordinated collaborative approach.”
In his remark, the I-G said: “The inauguration of the center would serve as a nerve centre to revolutionise the act of policing in Nigeria in the fight against cyber threats.”
He emphasized that: “The NPF-NCCC is part of a commitment by the Nigeria Police to harness technology, innovation and collaboration to address the growing challenges posed by cybercrimes.”
Egbetokun noted that: “The centre is a new frontier where law enforcement personnel leverage on forensic tools, expertise and partnership to detect, investigate and combat cybercrimes in all forms.”
