‘Cybercrime law will bring sanity to Nigeria’s online space’

THE Information Security Society of Africa-Nigeria (ISSAN) has commended the signing into law of the bill on cyber-crime by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, saying it would save the nation billions of Naira being lost to cyber criminals every year while also helping to sanitise the country’s cyberspace already riddled with a web of frauds and malpractices.
   
According to ISSAN President and General Manager, Union Bank, Dr. David T Isiavwe, the society expressed delight that with the law now in place, it will no longer be business as usual for criminals whose business is to defraud innocent people of their hard earned money and resources through the internet and other electronic means.
   
“We are delighted that Nigeria has joined the few countries in Africa and indeed, the world at large, to have a law which provides effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, detection, prosecution and punishment of cyber-crime in the country, while also ensuring the protection of computer systems and networks, electronic communications, data and computer programs, intellectual property and piracy rights. We now expect that the law will be implemented under the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari, given his antecedents and tough posture on corruption and other crimes.
 
“ISSAN has, in the last few years, championed the call for an appropriate law and regulations to save Nigerians from cyber criminals who are increasing by the day in the country. It is indeed gratifying to note that this law is now in place”.
   
ISSAN disclosed that it will soon embark on a massive public enlightenment on the new law to prevent Nigerians from falling victims to cyber criminals and also help discourage people from indulging in cyber crime to avoid stiff sanctions imposed by the law.
   
“For sure, it is no longer business as usual for cyber criminals. From the petty criminals operating in cybercafés to the big time hackers, email scammers and other computer-based fraudsters, the law stipulates heavy penalties which the criminals should be made aware of before they embark on their ‘suicide’ mission.
 
“Also the new law will help individuals to know their rights as well as the appropriate use of their computer systems and the need to protect themselves against the activities of fraudsters in electronic communications.”