Cybercrime in Nigeria: Evolving Threats and the Urgent Need for Resilience

By Dr. Sunday Oludare Ogunlana, Ph.D., CISSP, FIP, CIPP/US, AIGP., Keynote Address, Ekiti Book Club Symposium – May 31, 2025

On May 31st, 2025, I had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the 18th Deolu Oyebode Birthday Symposium and Book Presentation hosted by the Ekiti Book Club. The theme—“Cybercrime and the Evolving Landscape of Criminality in Nigeria: Challenges and Pathways to Resilience”—speaks to one of the most pressing national security concerns of our time.

This article summarizes my address and offers a roadmap for confronting the complex threat of cybercrime in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Cybercrime Crisis: A Real-World Case

Cybercrime is no longer theoretical—it is a real and pressing national crisis.

In 2024, First Bank of Nigeria uncovered a massive internal fraud. An operations staff member, Tijani Muiz Adeyinka, allegedly diverted over ₦40 billion by exploiting internal chargeback systems. The money was dispersed into over 1,100 accounts and funneled through crypto traders and fintech platforms. More than 100 employees were dismissed in the aftermath, and the bank faced reputational and financial consequences.

This case highlights the convergence of insider threats, weak digital controls, and transnational laundering schemes. It is also a wake-up call for banks, regulators, and cybersecurity leaders.

(Source: TechCabal, August 2024)

The Evolving Threat Landscape

Cybercrime in Nigeria has transitioned from informal email scams to highly coordinated digital operations. Today’s attackers are:

• Technically skilled and globally networked

• Leveraging AI to craft sophisticated phishing campaigns

• Exploiting gaps in our legal and enforcement frameworks

Common tactics include:

• Business Email Compromise (BEC)

• Cryptocurrency laundering

• Ransomware attacks

• Social engineering and identity impersonation

Nigeria is both a launchpad and a target, placing us at the center of the global cybercrime ecosystem.

Challenges Undermining Nigeria’s Response

1. Outdated Legislation: The 2015 Cybercrimes Act fails to address modern threats, such as AI-generated fraud and cryptocurrency misuse.

2. Limited Cyber Policing Capacity: Many law enforcement agencies lack the necessary training, forensic tools, or real-time access to digital intelligence.

3. Cultural Tolerance for Fraud: In some communities, cybercrime is wrongly romanticized as “smart hustle”—a harmful distortion.

4. Weak Institutional Controls: Many banks, telecommunications companies, and public agencies lack robust identity access, monitoring, and breach detection frameworks.

Pathways to Resilience: What Nigeria Must Do

To build resilience, we must take decisive and coordinated action. I propose the following five pathways:

1. Modernize Cybercrime Laws: Revise the Cybercrimes Act to address emerging technologies, cross-border crime, and enforcement procedures.

2. Establish State-Level Cybercrime Units: Each state should operate a digital crime lab equipped with forensic analysts, certified investigators, and intelligence support.

3. Youth Engagement and Talent Redirection: Nigeria’s youth possess immense digital skills. We must invest in cybersecurity education, ethical hacking programs, and innovation centers.

4. Public-Private Collaboration: The government must partner with financial institutions, telecommunications companies, fintech companies, and academia to share intelligence and develop coordinated responses.

5. Cyber Hygiene and Digital Literacy Campaigns: Launch national education campaigns to equip every Nigerian with basic cyber safety awareness.

Cybercrime is not just a technological problem—it is a societal, economic, and national security threat. Resilience must be proactive, not reactive. It means closing legislative gaps, fortifying institutions, and educating the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

I commend Deolu Oyebode for his timely book, Understanding Crime, and for sparking this critical national dialogue.

At OSRS, we remain committed to supporting governments, law enforcement, businesses, and educational institutions in building a secure digital future for Nigeria and beyond.

About the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sunday Oludare Ogunlana is the CEO of OGUN Security Research and Strategic Consulting (OSRS), a cybersecurity and national security consultancy. He is a Professor of Cybersecurity, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and an expert in AI governance, threat intelligence, and cybercrime strategy.

For consultations or inquiries, visit: www.ogunsecurity.com | Email: contact@ogunsecurity.com