By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Yesterday, senators and members of the House of Representatives raised serious concerns about the growing use of technology in criminal activities.
Federal lawmakers stated this during a high-level interactive ICT and national security session.
The session, attended by regulators, telecom operators, and other stakeholders and key players across the ICT, telecommunications, and security sectors, was a critical preparatory ground for the Senate Summit on Security.
They stressed the urgent need for coordinated responses to cybercrime, digital extortion, and the unregulated flow of harmful online content.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Afolabi Shuaib, led the discussion and lamented fraudsters’ exploitation of fintech platforms to fleece Nigerians.
Shuaib said, “Technology has become a double-edged sword.” Senator Shaib declared. “While it fuels economic growth, it’s also being hijacked to power kidnapping, cyber fraud, and online harassment. We’ll chase shadows at the Summit if we don’t act now.”
The interactive session was a dialogue and a strategic briefing designed to identify gaps, harness sectoral insights, and shape the agenda for the forthcoming National Security Summit.
The federal lawmaker made it clear that cybersecurity will not be treated as a footnote in the national conversation on safety but would be on the front burner.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, underscored the importance of the gathering.
He said, “We are here to listen, learn, and legislate better. The Renewed Hope Agenda places technology at the heart of our national development. Without building digital safety into the foundation, we cannot reap its full benefits.”
Other senators on the occasion voiced deep concerns over the increasing boldness of criminals who exploit technology, from ransom negotiations over mobile phones to the unchecked rise of cyberbullying.
The senators said collaboration, not isolation, must define the way forward.
They lamented that despite existing frameworks like the Cybersecurity Act and the designation of critical digital infrastructure, the implementation gaps and operational silos continue to weaken Nigeria’s digital defences.
