THE National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has directed all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses, and stakeholders to begin the full implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and Enforcement) Amendment Act 2024.
According to Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of the NSA’s Strategic Communications Office, all impediments to the effective implementation of the Cybercrimes Law have been overcome.
As a result, the NSA announced that a 0.5% charge on all electronic transactions valued by the businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrime Act will be paid and deposited to the National Cybercrime Fund.
It reads, “Arising from the high-level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja between April 22 and 23, 2024, African leaders stressed the urgent need for the improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa and taking concrete steps to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.
“In view of the need to secure Nigeria’s digital space and safeguard national security and economic interests, as well as deploy additional resources to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act, all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders have been communicated by this office to put in place mechanisms for the full implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.
“By this amendment, all impediments to the full operationalization of the Cybercrimes law have been addressed.
“Consequently, a levy of 0.5 per cent of all electronic transactions value by the specified businesses in the Second Schedule to the Act shall be paid and credited into the National Cybercrime Fund.”
Recall that on July 6, 2022. Nigeria joined 66 other countries in signing and ratifying the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime to improve international collaboration and establish a common platform and procedural instruments for efficient and safe cyberspace under section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
