The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, recently stated that “laziness” and “greed” among Nigerian youths are the primary drivers behind the escalating rates of cybercrime in the country. The remarks were made on Monday, October 27, 2025, during an orientation and sensitization program for new students at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Mando, Kaduna.
Represented by Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Nana Fatima Abubakar, Olukoyede asserted that many young Nigerians are opting for internet fraud as a shortcut to wealth, shunning legitimate paths that require “hard work, perseverance, and dedication.”
The EFCC’s official X handle also released a statement confirming the chairman’s stance, urging youths to embrace integrity and ethical standards to become future leaders. The commission warned that the relentless pursuit of quick riches is leading to the destruction of lives and reputations.
During the lecture on the dangers of cybercrime, Olukoyede, through his representative, identified several factors contributing to youth involvement in internet fraud, including “peer pressure, lack of patriotism, greed and laziness.” He further noted a dangerous trend of combining cybercrime with “drug and substance abuse as well as criminal fetish activities.”
The EFCC chairman called on students to reject these illicit activities and actively support the fight against corruption by reporting fraudulent activities through the EFCC’s Eagle Eye App.
Mr. Ola Olukoyede was appointed as the chairman of the EFCC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate on October 18, 2023.
