The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos Command, has called for enhanced capacity in digitisation, cybersecurity, and technological advancement to tackle the challenges of an increasingly complex digital world.
The Corps’ Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, said this on Tuesday at the NSCDC’s 6th PR Clinic in Lagos.
Abolurin said the world had become fully digitised, adding that “we cannot use yesterday’s tools to solve today’s problems.”
He stressed that collective effort produced better results, noting that synergy remained the best approach.
He added that the PR clinic would examine how the NSCDC could leverage cybersecurity and technological advancement to combat economic sabotage, which was one of the Corps’ core mandates.
Speaking at the event, Dr Waziri Adisa, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, said the concept of security had evolved beyond cyber and state security alone.
He said today’s security landscape was interconnected, with human, maritime, and food security forming part of the broader war against hunger and poverty.
He stressed that addressing cybersecurity challenges must begin with tackling human security issues.
“Poverty is the root cause of cybercrime. We may be in a digital world, but one of the major drivers of crime is poverty.
“So, poverty must be addressed first, regardless of our funding and investment in cybersecurity infrastructure,” he said.
Adedeji Oyenuga, a Professor of Criminology at the Department of Sociology, Lagos State University, said that “anyone who uses a phone, keeps money in the bank, or interacts online is a potential victim of cybercrime.
He urged Nigerians to be cautious.
Oyenuga added that the clinic offered valuable insights to law-abiding online users on how to protect themselves.
However, he noted that those engaging in cybercrime would also try to become smarter, as “development is always a war between fighting crime and committing crime—someone must outpace the other.”
He advised the public to take basic precautions when using digital devices.
“If you have an app on your phone that you don’t use, delete it.
“Always update your apps. Don’t download from just anybody—ensure you know the source.
“When browsing online, make sure you type in the correct website address. These are basic steps, and if you follow them, you are safe at level one,” he said.
