The Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security has pledged to support the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) through legislation to deliver on its mandate.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Shuiab Salisu, made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the centre.
He said the visit was in line with the mandate of the committee to see how technology could be used to address the country’s pressing challenges.
According to him, security is one of the major challenges the country is currently facing and as members of the committee we thought it was right to start with the NPF-NCC.
“Today, cybercrime is on the increase and as a committee we are here to see the facilities on ground at the centre and the challenges militating its operations.
“The idea is to ensure that they deliver on their mandate of addressing the increasing rate of cybercrimes effectively.
“Cybercrime is technology based and it damages the economy and individuals,” he said.
Salisu expressed satisfaction with the facilities on ground at the centre, adding that funds were needed to enhance the operational requirement of the centre.
“They also need some empowerment to address the issues of kidnapping in the country.
“With modern technology they could track all technology devices, including the phones used by criminals.
“No crime can be committed today without the use of technology and what this means is that we need technology to combat the crimes,” he said.
He said the committee would also, visit other agencies saddled with the responsibilities to fight cybercrime with a view to promote synergy among them.
In his remarks, the Director and Commissioner of Police in charge of the NPF-NCC, Mr Uche Ifeanyi, commended the committee members for the visit.
He said the visit had created an avenue for the legislators to see the strength and the weakness of the centre to be able to support the centre through adequate budgetary allocation.
Ifeanyi said the fight against cybercrime could only be won with adequate funding adding that the centre currently had one of the best technology that requires renewal and subscription.
“The renewals, subscriptions and licensing of the technologies run into millions of dollars that the Nigeria Police cannot do alone.
We need the right budgetary allocation, we need the support of the legislators and the government to enhance our service delivery,” he said.