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CyberCrime : Lawmakers Shelf Bill, Seek Harmonization
The bill to address risks associated with the use of e-payment channels is back to the drawing board after lawmakers withdrew the all important document for harmonization leaving the industry still without legal teeth, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now report. Senator Bukola Saraki, PDP, Kwara Central and chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology informed through his twitter handle that the Bill was withdrawn for harmonization. He said that “Bill to provide for prohibition & punishment for Electronic Fraud and E-Transfer of Funds Crime in Nigeria was withdrawn for harmonization.” The Senate had in a motion by Senator Adegbenga S. Kaka, Ogun East ruled that “the Electronic Fraud and Electronic Transfer of Funds Bill 2012 (SB. 69): a Bill for an Act to provide for prohibition and punishment for Electronic Fraud and Electronic Transfer of Frauds Crime in Nigeria and for other Related Matters Bill 2012 be read the second Time.” However, when subjected to a debate, the Bill was ended as “By leave of the Senate Bill withdraw (Rule 89). Nigeria has been trying without success for the best part of the decade to enact enabling technology and computer crime legislation to tackle the growing risks, threats and vulnerabilities of the information age. But Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, chairman House Committee on ICT, said, in Lagos on Friday that the bill must be passed during the life of the current legislature. Gusau is worried that the current security measures in place cannot mitigate risks associated with the modern day economy particularly now that the Nigeria is transiting to the cashless mode. “Currently, there is no laws protecting electronic payment and that is why my committee has initiated a cyber security to protect e-payment. We want to avoid replacing physical thieves with electronic thieves” he said. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek however gathered that despite the enthusiasm expressed by the lawmakers, early passage of the bill is still far away because of the various roadblocks to the bill. For instance, so many government agencies including the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and so on all have one related bill or the other all seeking powers to protect the electronic transaction channels. Segun Agbabiaka, a lawyer said that the absence of legislation on electronic payment and cybercrime is a pointer to the fact that Nigeria is not serious about eradicating her image problem. Agbabiaka, welcome the decision by the National Assembly to harmonize the bill adding that electronic transaction governance legislation will take care of refraining cybercriminals, look for hackers, retrain them to be more useful in other techie areas and where possible punish cyber criminals. He is however happy that the CBN had led the way by institutionalizing fraud guard and prevention system with the establishment of an Automated Teller Machine Fraud Prevention Committee. This committee is coming on the heels of alarm raised by some information security experts who claimed that the entire infrastructure behind the cash-less policy being promoted by the CBN may be 60 per cent vulnerable to fraud. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the CBN moved quickly to put together a Fraud Prevention Committee to address risks associated with the use of alternative e-payment channels. The members of the committee, which include banks, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Interswitch and ValuCard, will meet monthly to make e-payment more secure for bank customers. The setting up of the committee had become imperative to address card frauds, especially the ones associated with the use of ATMs and Point of Sale terminals. It noted that ATM fraud was prevalent when magnetic strip cards were in use. “All Nigerian banks have migrated their cards to chip and PIN technology, which is more secured and has drastically reduced the fraud level in the industry”. In terms of security of platforms, it said that ATM fraud was prevalent when Nigeria was using magnetic stripe cards. But last year, Nigeria migrated, all their cards to chip and PIN, which is more secured, and drastically reduced the fraud level. With chip and PIN, the chances of fraud are reduced provided a customer keeps his PIN secret,” the Committee said.
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
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