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Crime Ambassadors Of Nigeria (CAN)
In a country where many citizens are obsessed with titles to enhance their social standing, a new tag – the Crime Ambassador of Nigeria (CAN) is fast recommending itself for conferment on Nigerians who have drawn international attention and opprobrium to the country, with respect to their involvement in trans-border crimes. And it would seem that the time has come for the formal conferment of such a title starting with deserving Nigerians like those 79 recent suspects of cybercrime in the US currently facing charges in that country’s courts over charges of swindling individuals, companies, charities as well as even churches of millions of dollars, with which they come back to Nigeria to live big without as much as a whimper from their communities over how they suddenly became super rich. According to some posts currently trending on the social media, many of these profiled individuals are seemingly ordinary Nigerian good time folks and regular toasts of their kith and kin as well as social circles.
Interestingly, such miscreants have been with us for a long time since the days when electronic processes in banking commenced around the world in the early nineties. Until then, banking fraud was restricted to local institutions as operations were manual and hardly would any untoward development spread beyond the gates of the bank. With the growth of electronic banking in the nineties, banking operations between individual banks and branches were progressively being synchronized as exchange of banking information, which traditionally were locally subjected to strict confidentiality, became increasingly facilitated with greater ease. But this transition came with a dark side as the bad eggs in the banks found it easier to falsify the now machine readable information, and exploit the system in collaboration with outside scammers. Hence, as the ease of transactions grew, so the liberty to swindle the system also expanded.
Older Nigerians will easily recall the days of ‘419’ in the early nineties when the swindling of foreigners by Nigerian ‘smart alecs’ was rampant with not a few of the culprits, making huge fortunes from the illicit activity and built financial empires that survive till today. They were named ‘419ers’ after Section 419 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code which deals with the crime of obtaining favours through deceit. However, if compared with the earlier day ‘419ers’, the present day fraudsters are light years ahead. The similarities between the two generations of fraudsters if any, go beyond the ways and means of operation. While the older generation depended on the now archaic fax machines that transmitted only data across telephone networks, the new age operators use the much faster and more efficient computer and internet.
Although the focus may be on Nigerians today, participation in internet fraud activities is not confined to Nigerians. The scourge of internet fraud is already a pandemic in the advanced countries where the exercise accounts for global losses estimated at $3 billion annually. Some may therefore be even inclined to see the participation of Nigerians as a mere scratch on the surface.
However, for this country, the increasing involvement of Nigerians in cybercrime especially on the international scale is more than the diplomatic scenario of poor representation of the country abroad by the culprits. In a more profound context, it imposes a negative value system on the growing and impressionable youth as it reinforces the mindset that easy money from crime is the way to go. When the fraudsters succeed in coming home with stashes of cash and spread same in a poverty ridden environment, it becomes difficult to preach any other sermon that runs on the dignity of hard work. The impact of such a syndrome is already incalculable in the Nigerian society as it accounts for the current apocalyptic escalation in crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and the ‘yahoo yahoo’ range of rituals-based, nefarious activities.
Today, the Nigerian society lies prostrate before the scourge of kidnapping for ransom, which has turned into a most lucrative business enterprise across the country. All categories of nationals are kidnapped daily for ransom with victims securing their release on the payment of various sums of money and occasionally with items in kind including food stuff and for ladies, sexual favours. The explosion in the crime of kidnapping in Nigeria has proved to outmatch the capacity of the security forces as even their personnel are not spared as victims.
Meanwhile, as the recent case of one Hamisu Wadume, the alleged kidnapper from Taraba State is revealing, the seemingly intractable nature of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the country, enjoy in many cases the active collaboration of the very security operatives on whom the task of caging the culprits, rests. Wadume was reportedly earlier arrested in Ibi town in Taraba State, in the course of investigations into serial kidnapping cases by some crack police detectives. He was being conveyed to the Police base when soldiers – apparently acting in league with the suspect attacked the police officers, and killed some of them as well as injuring others.
Revelations from the ongoing investigations in the Wadume case clearly point to a wider malady of insider conspiracies between the wave of crimes and the criminals as well components of the security apparatus. It would therefore seem that the country’s fight against violent crimes needs to be targeted at discouraging the lure of easy money among the youths. And the earlier this is done, the better, as the lure to join the ranks of the CANs, is not growing.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
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