Nigeria to deport foreign cybercriminals after jail term

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has announced that foreign cybercriminals arrested in Nigeria will be deported to their home countries once they have served their jail sentences.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day National Cybersecurity Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olukoyede emphasised the increasing threat of cybercrime to Nigeria’s digital economy and revealed plans to address the issue through both international cooperation and local rehabilitation efforts.

Olukoyede began by expressing gratitude to the National Information Technology Development Agency for organising the event, which focuses on building a resilient digital future for Nigeria. He stressed the critical importance of securing the country’s growing digital space.

“I would like to speak to you on a matter that is not only critical to our security but also essential to the economic survival and growth of our nation,” he said.

The conference reflects Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation, which has seen significant advances in mobile banking, e-commerce, digital currencies, and more.

“Nigeria has rapidly embraced digital innovation and transformation. Today, we are home to one of the fastest-growing sectors in Africa. Our mobile banking platforms, digital development systems, digital currency exchanges, and e-commerce activities are changing the economic landscape,” Olukoyede observed.