The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have agreed to synergize efforts to tackle technology-driven crimes in the country in order to make Nigeria more investment-friendly and promote socioeconomic activities.
The Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, gave this hint during his recent visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede in the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Specifically, the telecom industry regulator said: “Internet crimes are sophisticated and the NCC as a critical partner is always ready to work with the EFCC in any area it could to contribute to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Maida explained he was at the anti-graft Commission’s office to congratulate the Executive Chairman of EFCC on his appointment, describing the NCC as a longtime partner of the EFCC in the fight against Internet fraud and the visit is one of those official engagements meant to deepen the conversation and engagement between the two commissions.
For instance, he recalled that the EFCC facilitated the forensic training of some of the staff of the Commission as part of the management’s efforts to improve their investigative skills
Maida further clarified: “Internet crimes are sophisticated and the NCC as a critical partner is always ready to work with the EFCC in any area it could to contribute to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Speaking during the meeting with the NCC boss, the EFCC chief described Maida’s visit for a broad-based collaboration and synergy between the two agencies as desirable in the efforts to jointly tackle the increasing menace of internet frauds and make the nation’s environment more investment-friendly.
While noting that internet fraudsters have been exploring the Internet to foster their criminalities, the anti-graft expert urged the NCC to be firmer in its regulatory activities in the telecoms ecosystem.
He said: “When enforcers of the law and regulators collaborate, it will not be business as usual. There is a need for collaboration because crimes are technology- driven.”
According to him, the collaboration of the two Commissions has indicated their readiness to confront the menace of Internet frauds and assures fraudsters that criminality would not be business as usual for them.
This is even as he also charged the NCC and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to monitor the telecoms consumers’ use of the Internet more closely to checkmate the activities of fraudsters.
Photo Caption
The Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, (left) during his visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja recently
