From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat cybercrime, enabling real-time information sharing, coordinated intelligence gathering, and cooperative prosecution.
The agreement was formalised on Tuesday in Abuja.
Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, described the launch of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) as a product of foresight and shared conviction. The JCTC comprises members from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPFNCCC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (NgCert), Office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Justice, and Federal High Court.
Fagbemi stated, “We are coming together not just as institutions, but as one community of justice.” He emphasised that the JCTC addresses the need for a coordinated approach under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, to tackle complex, transnational cyber threats. “This platform brings together some of our nation’s foremost criminal justice institutions… to strengthen criminal justice,” he said, noting that laws alone are insufficient without empowered enforcement.
Fagbemi thanked the UK National Crime Agency, UK Minister of State for Home Affairs Lord David Hanson, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and Commonwealth Secretariat for their support. Hanson, responding, said the MoU would crack down on cybercriminals and foster economic growth in both nations. “We are pleased to support and help as we can, to add value to fight against corruption, improve growth in Nigeria economy and that of the UK,” he stated, assuring continued UK commitment.
UNODC Country Director Cheikh Toure, in a message, described the initiative as a significant stride against borderless cybercrime. “It is through partnerships like this, rooted in mutual trust and a common purpose, that we can make tangible progress and secure a safer, more resilient digital space for all,” he said, pledging UNODC’s support for inter-agency coordination and capacity building.