Nigeria has joined the 66-member countries of Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, to enhance international cooperation.
A statement by the Head, Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser Zakari Usman, says the development follows the approval of the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, and the signing of the instrument of accession by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as transmission to the Council of Europe on July 6, 2022.
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno retired say, Nigeria officially ratified its membership on July 6, 2022 after five-year efforts to fulfil the requirements.
The statement adds that the Act is aimed at guaranteering, among others, the safe use of the cyberspace and minimise the attendant risks to online platforms and critical infrastructure with consequential negative impact.
The ratification will also enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural law tools for efficient investigations of cybercrimes, as well as the preservation and transfer of electronic evidence as appropriate in relation to any crime.
It will also make Nigeria a priority hub for cybercrime capacity building programmes.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
