Metro
Tinubu Commissions Digitalized Cybercrime Centre, Reiterates Commitment to Invest in NPF
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the ultramodern and digitalized National Cybercrime Centre to strengthen the efficiency of law enforcing agencies in the country, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director (Information & Public Relations) in the Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The President’s address, read by the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the cybercrime centre in Abuja, stated that the government is committed to investing in Nigeria Police Force through the procurement of sufficient arms, weapons, and other equipment as well as recruitment and continuous training to boast the number, quality, and preparedness of the police personnel.
In his words, “This administration remains resolute in the fight against all forms of criminality. As emerging and rapid categories of offenses, cyber crimes are a new frontier in the battle. We are witnessing a rise in the threat posed by cybercriminals, online financial fraudsters, and cyber terrorists who use the internet to coordinate and carry out destabilizing and nefarious activities.”
He said the emerging development of technology, covid-19 pandemic, and the advent of 5G technology have all contributed to widening the scope and diversity of cyberspace threats. “Since 2020, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the use of social media to spread inflammatory messages and incite violence and unrest. The President noted.
Tinubu stated that the Federal Government has set up several major policy decisions including the review of the cybercrime plan which would work toward mitigating multiple crimes posed by cybercriminals
He added that the present administration is committed to enhancing social security of Nigerians and tackling the economic and security challenges facing the country while also providing a platform to improve the nation’s credibility as a safe designation for foreign investment in the digital world.
The President urged the Inspector General of Police to effectively utilize the facility to protect Nigeria’s cyberspace and ensure that it is used to enhance the national development and economic progress of the country.
“It is my hope the centre will complement the ONSA in the protection of the critical national infrastructure and scrutiny of online activities of those who seek to cause damage to our national interest. ”.
The President calls for the elimination of interagency rivalry and embraces collaborative efforts to stem the complex security threats posed by organized state actors.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam represented by the Director of Police Services Department, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad pointed out that, the highest form of criminality today takes place in cyberspace and has continued to spread like wildfire especially among our younger ones, causing a lot of harm and havoc to the society.
He commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force for their swift and proactive measures in curtailing this cyber menace in our society by building this Cyber Crime Center.
Gaidam revealed that there is an ongoing project entitled, “National Criminal Data Fusion Center” at the NPF Headquarters that is aimed at digitalizing crime data record and share crime information among the various security agencies in the country.
“The project will be ready for commissioning as soon as the expected fund is released for its completion”. He stressed.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun opined that the modern digital technology facility will serve as a nerve centre of revolutionary the act of policing in Nigeria and indeed entire sub-Saharan Africa in the fight against cyber threats.
In his words, “The NPF National Cybercrime centre emboldens our commitment to harnessing technology innovation and collaboration to address the growing challenges posed by cybercrimes and its related offenses. This centre represents a new frontier in law enforcement where we are leveraging cutting edge tools, expertise, and partnership to protect, investigate and combat cybercrimes.”
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has condole with families of the victims of the fuel tanker fire which occurred at the Dikko junction in Niger state on Saturday, charging tanker operators to always adhere strictly to safety standards and observe due protocols in transloading fuel products.
In his reaction to the fuel tanker incident, according to a statement signed by the Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the Corps Marshal described the human losses to the inferno as disheartening and disastrous, warning that such incidents must never be allowed to happen again.
The Corps Marshal expressed worry that despite sustained enlightenment programs carried out by the Corps with the tanker drivers on the need to be safety conscious while transporting petroleum products due to their inflammable nature and the general public to stay away from scenes of tanker crashes, many people could still fall victims of the Saturday’s unfortunate tanker incident. While recalling that 73 burnt bodies have so far been recovered by the rescue teams for final burial as arranged by the Niger State Government, the Corps Marshal revealed that the FRSC teams have been directed to sustain the joint operations with other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective management of traffic at the scenes in order to prevent further incidents.
In the same vein, the accident investigation unit of the Corps will work in collaboration with other agencies to unravel the causes and proffer solutions that could address future occurrence. “Meanwhile, those that sustained various degrees of injury have been taken to different hospitals including Suleja General Hospital for further medical attention as normalcy has returned to the area with free movement of traffic,” the Corps Marshal stated.
Shehu Mohammed stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration and robust engagement with members of the public including critical stakeholders to ensure that the nation does not witness this level of human losses again, especially when the incident could have been prevented by strict adherence to due diligence. “The nation was yet to recover from similar incident that occured in Jiagawa last year, and having to witness another incident of this magnitude at the beginning of the new year is painful and regrettable,” he further stated.
The Corps Marshal assures Nigerians that the FRSC will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders and members of the public to find lasting solutions to all road-based emergencies and called for involvement of all Nigerians in the joint efforts to ensure safety and security of lives and property of road travelers.
While praying God for repose of the souls of all those that lost their lives to the inferno, the Corps Marshal appeals for support to the families of the survivors in the various hospitals to ensure their quick recovery. He further commiserate with the people of Niger state and commended the prompt intervention of the Executive Governor of Niger State who was physically present at the scene.
In furtherance of its ongoing scheme to excite and reward its subscribers across the country, Globacom, on Friday, in Abuja, held another draw to select winners in its Festival of Joy consumer promotion.
The draw, held at the Gloworld, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse, had the presence of several observers including Glo subscribers, members of the media and Martin Oteh who led officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to witness the process.
The company had before now presented prizes to winners in several cities since the promo started in October 2024, enabling hundreds of Nigerians who won various prizes to end the year 2024 on a joyful note.
As is the tradition since the start of the promo, the draw precedes the prize presentation exercise, which is to be done on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the same Glo office at Wuse, Abuja. The lucky subscribers include the winner of a brand new Toyota Prado and winners of tricycle, sewing machines, generators and grinding machines.
Globacom encouraged new and existing subscribers to dial *611# to opt into the promo and to also keep recharging (voice and data) during the promo period, in order to be eligible to win the prizes on offer. New subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
“New and existing customers are to recharge up to N100, 000 cumulatively during the promo period to qualify for the draw for the Prado Jeep, N50, 000 cumulative recharge for Kia Picanto, N10, 000 in a month for tricycle and N5, 000 total recharge in a month to win a generator. For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2, 500 in a month is required, while for the grinding machine, a recharge of N1,000 in a week will be eligible for the draw”, the company noted.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked lands allocated to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, his Bayelsa counterpart Douye Diri, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen.
The minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the withdrawal of the R-of-O for 568 allottees followed the expiration of a two-week grace period to pay their C-of-O bills.
He noted that of the 3,273 allottees initially given two weeks in October 2024 to pay their bills, 568 remained in default after an additional grace period expired on January 15.
Also affected are the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia; former governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, Senate Leader; Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Minority Leader; Abba Moro, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment; John Eno, Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM); Abike Dabiri-Erewa; late Sports Minister Bala Kaoje; and Regina Akume, wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The fresh revocation comes three weeks after the initial withdrawal of 762 plots of land from their allottees.
