Abeokuta, December 7, 2025 – In a bold move to fortify Nigeria's digital defenses against an escalating wave of technology-fueled crimes, the Senate has announced plans to repeal and replace the existing National Cybercrime Law. Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, revealed this during a press interaction in Abeokuta, Ogun State, emphasizing the need for a modern framework that incorporates advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), emerging cyber threats, and the recently adopted United Nations Convention on Cybercrime.
The announcement came shortly after the induction of new members, vice patrons, and the investiture of the executive committee of the historic Abeokuta Sports Club 1904, led by its newly elected President, Alhaji Taoheed Awodele.
Representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Salisu underscored the National Assembly’s unwavering commitment to partnering with the executive arm and security agencies in combating Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges. He highlighted a recent engagement session in the South West geopolitical zone dedicated to insecurity, with plans to replicate such consultations across all six zones to gather grassroots insights and foster inclusive policy-making.
“As I speak with you, we are reworking a new National Cybersecurity Law. We are going to repeal the existing law and promulgate a new one,” Salisu declared, pointing to the rapid evolution of technology since the enactment of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act in 2015. “Since the last law was enacted, we have witnessed advancements in technology, the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and new forms of cybercrime. There is also a new UN Convention on Cyber Crimes. So, a new cybersecurity law is coming into play.”
This legislative push arrives at a critical juncture for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a burgeoning digital economy hub. The 2015 Cybercrimes Act, while groundbreaking at its inception, has been criticized for its outdated provisions that fail to address sophisticated threats like AI-generated deepfakes, ransomware powered by machine learning, and state-sponsored cyber espionage. An amendment bill passed in 2024 introduced measures such as a 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions to fund national defenses and stricter penalties for offenses like unauthorized data access, but stakeholders argue it falls short against AI’s rapid proliferation.
Cybercrime costs Nigeria an estimated $500 million annually, eroding investor confidence and stunting fintech growth in a sector projected to reach $10 billion by 2027. High-profile incidents, including the 2024 breach of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s systems and a surge in “Yahoo Yahoo” scams leveraging AI chatbots, have amplified calls for reform.
Salisu elaborated on technology’s dual-edged role in modern crime. “There is hardly any crime today without a technological input, from making phone calls to committing fraud,” he noted, advocating for nationwide broadband expansion to “govern the currently ungoverned spaces.” This aligns with the federal government’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, which targets 70% coverage but currently stands at about 45%, leaving rural areas vulnerable to illicit activities.
The proposed law, informed by the UN Convention adopted in August 2024, will introduce unified global standards for investigations, victim support, and cross-border cooperation, addressing Nigeria’s position as a transit hub for African cyber threats. The convention, ratified by over 100 nations, emphasizes ethical AI use in law enforcement while safeguarding human rights—a balance Salisu stressed amid concerns over the 2024 amendments’ potential to curb free speech.
Earlier efforts under Salisu’s committee, including a July 2025 interactive session with civil society, the Ministry of Justice, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have shaped the repeal bill. These consultations addressed AI’s role in fraud, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reporting a 300% spike in deepfake-enabled scams. The new legislation will mandate digital literacy for lawmakers and establish a National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre for real-time threat response.
The event in Abeokuta provided a lighter yet poignant backdrop, blending legislative discourse with community stewardship. The Abeokuta Sports Club 1904, one of Nigeria’s oldest social institutions founded as a colonial-era relaxation hub for West African elites, inducted over 20 new members and elevated vice patrons during a ceremony at its Ibara GRA venue. Established in 1904, the club has evolved into a nexus for intellectual exchange, boasting patrons like Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo.
Salisu urged the club to extend its influence beyond recreation, positioning it as a “repository of knowledge” for civic guidance and policy refinement. “Clubs like this should help provide clarity, to distinguish what is good in the long and short term and what is politically motivated,” he said, calling on social organizations to vet leadership recruits and promote ethical governance.
Echoing these sentiments, Ogun State’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, challenged the new executives to embody transformative leadership. A civil engineer and entrepreneur with a Master’s in Public Health Engineering from Imperial College London, Salako-Oyedele urged pursuit of “impact, progress, harmony, and new possibilities,” declaring, “Leadership is about leaving things better than you met them.”
Alhaji Taoheed Awodele, the club’s new President and a seasoned administrator, pledged a tenure of “integrity, transparency, and commitment.” Outlining an ambitious agenda, he announced investments in modern swimming pools, completion of the tennis house, upgrades to the five-a-side soccer pitch and gallery, and other facilities to enhance member wellness and attract youth.
This convergence of policy and patrimony in Abeokuta symbolizes Nigeria’s intertwined paths: securing the digital frontier while nurturing social fabrics. As the Senate advances the repeal—potentially tabling the bill in early 2026—the nation braces for a cybersecurity renaissance. Yet, success hinges on balancing innovation with rights, ensuring AI empowers rather than endangers. In Salisu’s words, only through comprehensive coverage can Nigeria “deploy technology to govern the ungoverned.” For Ogun and beyond, clubs like Abeokuta Sports 1904 stand ready to guide this journey, one informed dialogue at a time.
