COVID- 19 PANDEMIC AND ANTI-CYBERCRIMES CRUSADE IN NIGERIA: CHANGING THE NARRATIVES FOR A BETTER ENFORCEMENT REGIME

ABSTRACT

Nothing has ravaged the global community in recent times like the dreaded corona virus (COVID -19). The virus, though of Chinese origin was transported into Nigeria through an Italian ship. This paper therefore appraises COVID -19 pandemic and anti-cybercrimes crusade in Nigeria changing the narratives for a better enforcement regime. The paper trenchantly posits that, COVID-19 pandemic is a blessing in disguise as it brought to fore the underlying ineffectiveness that surrounds Nigeria's administrative, institutional and legal architecture for combating cybercrimes. It is also the position of the paper that, during the lock-down (occasioned by the pandemic), there was an exponential increase in cases of cybercrimes in the country as a result of poor enforcement mechanisms, corruption, greed, poverty, lack of expertise, unemployment and the skewed undying quest for wealth. The paper makes a case for a total overhauling of the legal and institutional regime for cybercrimes combat so as to be at par with countries such as the United States of America, United Kingdom, China and the United Arab Emirate (UAE). The paper adopts the doctrinal research approach;primary and secondary materials were sourced and used. These materials include statutes, case laws, articles published in reputable journals, reports of renowned bodies, newspapers publication amongst others.