Insecurity: Senators, Reps Raise Alarm over Cyberbullying, Tech-Enabled Crimes

•Senate threatens to unmask federal character principle violators in public service

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Senators and members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, raised concerns over the growing use of technology in criminal activities.

The federal lawmakers stated their concern during a high-level interactive session on ICT and national security.

The session was attended by regulators, telecom operators, and other stakeholders and key players across the ICT, telecommunications, and security sectors.

The session was a major preparatory ground for the senate summit on security.

The senators and House of Representatives members stressed the urgent need for coordinated responses to cybercrime, digital extortion, and the unregulated flow of harmful online content.

Leading the discussion, Chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Afolabi Shuaib, lamented the exploitation of fintech platforms by fraudsters to fleece Nigerians.

Shuaib said, “Technology has become a double-edged sword. While it fuels economic growth, it’s also being hijacked to power kidnapping, cyber fraud, and online harassment. If we don’t act now, we’ll be chasing shadows at the summit.”

The interactive session was not just a dialogue, it was also a strategic briefing, designed to identify gaps, harness sectoral insights, and shape the agenda for the forthcoming National Security Summit.

The federal lawmaker made it clear that cybersecurity would not be treated as a footnote in the national conversation on safety but would be on the front burner.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, underscored the importance of the gathering.

Bamidele stated, “We are here to listen, to learn, and to legislate better. The Renewed Hope Agenda places technology at the heart of our national development. We cannot reap its full benefits unless we build digital safety into the foundation.”

Other senators also voiced deep concerns over the increasing boldness of criminals, who exploited technology – from ransom negotiations over mobile phones to the unchecked rise of cyberbullying.

They said collaboration, not isolation, must define the way forward, lamenting that despite existing frameworks, like the Cybersecurity Act and the designation of critical digital infrastructure, the implementation gaps and operational silos have continued to weaken Nigeria’s digital defences.

Relatedly, the senate vowed to unmask violators of the federal character principle in the recruitment of personnel into various federal government-owned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Federal Character principle in Nigeria is enshrined in Section 14(3) and 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

It stipulates that the composition of the government and its agencies, at both the federal and state levels, must reflect the diversity of the country and ensure no single ethnic group or state dominates.

The principle aims to promote national unity, loyalty, and a sense of belonging for all citizens.

The senate believed the principle had been violated by public officers at both the federal and state levels over the years.

To curb the violation, the senate, on Tuesday, after adopting a motion sponsored by its minority whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, mandated the Committee on Federal Character to investigate violation of the principle across the various MDAs.

The investigation hearing started yesterday with an interactive session with heads of critical agencies.

The committee headed by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (PDP Rivers East) advised the heads of the agencies not to hide any documents needed for the investigation.

Onyesoh said, “As enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Federal Character Principle is fundamental to our national cohesion.

“It mandates that governance must reflect the diversity of our federation to prevent domination by any one group or region. Sadly, systemic abuse and ineffective enforcement have made this principle more honoured in the breach than in observance.

“Persistent non-compliance by many MDAs in both recruitment and infrastructure allocation has fuelled marginalisation and deepened discontent.

“The Federal Character Commission, despite its legal powers, has struggled with enforcement. This reality calls for urgent reforms—possibly including a Federal Character Compliance Tribunal—to ensure that violations are meaningfully addressed.”