The United States has opened a special cybersecurity office at its embassy in Abuja to strengthen efforts against cybercrimes in Nigeria. U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., announced this initiative during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The new office aims to enhance collaboration with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ambassador Mills emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing the growing challenges of cybercrime. “Our new office will focus on expanding our cooperation with the EFCC to tackle cybercrimes more efficiently,” he said.
Mills highlighted the U.S. commitment to supporting Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework and protecting its digital infrastructure. “Nigeria is crucial to the United States because we share democratic values, and we are ready to give you all the support,” he added.
The special office will facilitate closer cooperation between U.S. and Nigerian authorities, providing technical support, training, and resources to the EFCC. This effort aims to improve the detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to tackle this evolving threat.
President Tinubu welcomed the initiative, acknowledging Nigeria’s strategic role as Africa’s largest democracy. “Nigeria is ready to play its role as the largest democracy in Africa that is worthy of emulation to other African countries,” Tinubu stated. He expressed confidence that this collaboration would yield significant benefits for both countries, enhancing security and fostering economic growth.
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Nigeria has been ranked fifth in a global report on sources of cybercrime activities, following Russia, Ukraine, China, and the United States. This ranking is part of the first-ever World Cybercrime Index, developed by researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of New South Wales, Canberra. The index highlights major cybercrime hotspots worldwide.
In response to the growing cybercrime threat, the U.S. had previously announced plans to deploy a cybercrime advisor to Nigeria. This advisor will facilitate cooperation by providing essential training, equipment, and technical assistance to enhance Nigeria’s ability to address cyber threats such as fraud scams and sextortion. This initiative, funded by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), was disclosed during the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission held in Abuja in April 2024.
Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, reported removing 63,000 Instagram accounts belonging to Nigerians for attempting to engage in financial sextortion scams. This action underscores the ongoing efforts to combat cybercrimes and protect digital platforms from misuse.