The United States government has raised fresh concerns over the scale of cyber fraud linked to Nigeria, warning that such crimes now account for more than 1.8 billion dollars in losses every year, with the majority of victims located in the United States.
Speaking at the public presentation of the Nigeria Cyber Crime Assessment Report in Abuja, the Director of the United States Embassy International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Office, Dr Douglas Grey, disclosed that Nigeria currently ranks fifth globally among countries associated with online fraud activities. He explained that the assessment, funded by the US Department of State, was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s institutional capacity to combat cybercrime and protect citizens locally and internationally.
Grey said studies on fraud linked to Nigerian accounts showed that business email compromise and related online scams alone resulted in losses exceeding 1.8 billion dollars within a single year. He added that most of the victims were Americans.
According to him, cybercrime weakens confidence in digital platforms, discourages investment and damages global financial and public service systems.
Grey commended the United Nations for providing technical support for the report and praised Nigerian law enforcement agencies for their cooperation. He noted that crimes such as extortion, online scams and cyber fraud have harmed millions of people while negatively affecting Nigeria’s global image and overshadowing the country’s genuine digital innovation and talent.
He also revealed that in 2022 alone, Nigeria recorded an estimated loss of 500 million dollars to cybercrime. Grey stressed that Nigerian linked fraud schemes operating abroad continue to cause massive financial damage, adding that the US government remains committed to supporting Nigeria. He disclosed that trained Nigerian officers have assisted in securing extraditions, prosecutions and the recovery of about 700,000 dollars in restitution for victims since his arrival in Nigeria in August.
Addressing the dangers of online sexual exploitation, Grey warned that children and young people are increasingly vulnerable to cyber related crimes, especially sex extortion. He described such offences as wicked and called for stronger collaboration to bring perpetrators to justice. He urged Nigeria to fully implement the recommendations in the assessment report.
In his remarks, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Representative, Mr Cheikh Ousman Toure, described the assessment as a practical roadmap rather than just a report. He said cybercrime threatens economies, national security and public trust, noting that Nigeria’s growing digital economy has also created opportunities for criminal networks.
Toure identified major gaps highlighted in the report, including limited technical capacity among law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, weak public awareness and poor international cooperation. He warned that cybercrime is evolving faster than current responses and called for sustained investment, improved intelligence sharing and nationwide prevention campaigns, particularly targeting schools and vulnerable communities.
He emphasised the need for stronger legislative backing and better intelligence analysis, noting that investment in cybercrime prevention would save millions in economic losses. Toure reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country could become a regional leader in the fight against cybercrime.
