The National Information Technology Development Agency has
expressed concern that the indictment of several Nigerians for
cybercrimes in the United States can frustrate the growth of
Nigerian information and technology start-ups.
Eighty suspects, mostly Nigerians, were named in a list of
Internet fraudsters released by the US Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
Already, some of the suspects have been arrested in raids
carried out in Nigeria and the US.
In a statement on Thursday, NITDA expressed concerns that
innocent Nigerians could be made to suffer due to what it described
as ‘knee-jerk’ reactions trailing the development.
The agency also responded to a recent report that a
foreign-owned IT firm in the country closed shop after accusing its
Nigerian employees of lack of integrity.
Acting Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said Nigerian
IT companies might henceforth find it difficult to attract
investments that they required to sustain innovation.
Inuwa said, “The attention of the National Information
Technology Agency has been drawn to reports in international media
indicting scores of Nigerians for cybercrimes in the United
States.
“We also note a recent publication of a foreign-owned software
company hitherto operating in Nigeria indicting its Nigerian
employees for lack of integrity and duplicity.
“NITDA is concerned that knee-jerk reactions following these
allegations may lead to poor treatment of Nigerians living outside
Nigeria or denial of certain financial services that may hamper
economic growth or frustrate investments in Nigerian companies,
especially start-ups who need investments to sustain
innovation.
“It is grossly unfair to taint an entire nation with a single
brush for the alleged crimes of a few.”
NITDA, in the same vein, urged countries which were friendly
with Nigeria to caution their local authorities against treating
innocent Nigerians travelling or living in their territories in a
derogatory manner, or denying Nigerians services without proof of
any crime.
The agency pointed out that there were thousands of hardworking
Nigerian professionals with exemplary careers in Information
Technology.
Nigerian technology entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups, and
mid-sized companies have continued to blaze the trail in innovation
and provision of service in Africa and the world, the statement
said.
It added that NITDA was celebrating Nigerian professionals who
currently work and contribute to the development of innovation and
IT in leading global multinationals.
NITDA, in the same vein, commended law enforcement agencies
including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for their dedication in
the campaign against cyber criminals.