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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has linked the growing visa restrictions faced by Nigerians abroad to rising cases of cybercrime and money laundering, warning that these activities are eroding the country’s global reputation and undermining economic growth.
According to the Commission, advanced economies including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates have tightened visa procedures for Nigerian applicants in response to persistent reports of internet fraud. The result has been longer processing times, higher rejection rates, and increased scrutiny for even legitimate travellers.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Head of the Advance Fee Fraud Section in Port Harcourt, CSE Coker Oyegunle, urged young Nigerians to shun internet fraud at a youth sensitisation forum organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA).
“Fraud is not success; it is a trap. Digital footprints never disappear, and those who follow the path of cybercrime ultimately lose their freedom, reputation, and future,” he cautioned.
Olukoyede stressed that beyond reputational damage, cybercrime is costing Nigeria billions annually in lost revenue, stunted infrastructure development, and fewer job opportunities. Recent enforcement actions underscore the scale of the problem: in August 2025, EFCC operatives in Lagos arrested 38 suspected internet fraudsters, while its Benin Zonal Directorate secured convictions against 12 individuals for advance fee fraud and forgery.
Nigeria has also deported foreign nationals convicted of cybercrime, including 50 Chinese citizens and one Tunisian, as part of its broader clampdown on transnational fraud.
Other security agencies echoed concerns during the forum. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Assistant Commander General of Narcotics Mathew Ewah, described drug abuse among youths as one of Nigeria’s most pressing social crises. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), through Assistant Superintendent Kabiru Zakari, highlighted the environmental and health risks of oil pipeline vandalism, urging young people to protect rather than sabotage national resources.
To strengthen its response, the EFCC last year established an Immigration Fraud Section with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. The unit works closely with the Nigerian Immigration Service and foreign embassies to dismantle visa rackets, fake travel document syndicates, and cross-border fraud networks.
The EFCC maintains that prevention is just as critical as enforcement. Olukoyede urged youths to channel their creativity into productive ventures such as digital innovation, agriculture, and the creative industries rather than seeking quick, illicit gains.
“Cybercrime is not just destroying individual futures—it is damaging Nigeria’s standing in the world,” he said.
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