The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised concerns that rising cases of internet fraud are worsening visa restrictions for innocent Nigerians seeking to travel abroad.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said fraudulent activities not only destroy the future of perpetrators but also damage Nigeria’s reputation, making it harder for law-abiding citizens to access opportunities overseas.
Speaking through Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Coker Oyegunle, at an event organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs in Port Harcourt on Monday, Olukoyede stressed that cybercrime, money laundering, and economic sabotage cost Nigeria billions of naira annually, stifling development and depriving citizens of jobs and infrastructure.
“Beyond the economic impact, these crimes erode Nigeria’s global image and subject innocent Nigerians to stricter visa conditions,” the EFCC said in a statement released Tuesday.
Olukoyede urged youths in the South-South and across the country to redirect their energy into positive ventures such as digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and the creative industry.
“Fraud is not success; it is a trap. Easy come, easy go. Those who follow the path of ‘yahoo-yahoo’ often lose their freedom, reputation, and future. The law will catch up with them, and digital footprints never disappear. Don’t destroy your tomorrow with shortcuts today,” he warned.
The EFCC boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying sensitisation, enforcement, and community partnerships in the fight against internet fraud.
Also at the event, representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) cautioned youths against drug abuse and pipeline vandalism, describing them as major threats to the nation’s security and development.
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The EFCC has recently ramped up its crackdown on cybercrime. In August, operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 arrested 38 suspected internet fraudsters at Mambillah Hotel in Ikorodu after days of surveillance.
Items recovered included cars, phones, and substances suspected to be narcotics.
