The Socio-ethical and Economic Implications of Cybercrime in Nigeria: A Narrative Study

Abstract

The use of computers and the internet has brought a visible revolutionary change in our modern society. People make use of computers and the internet for different reasons and purposes. However, the reason for the invention of the computer and internet services is to make life easier and more comfortable but unfortunately, those with negative mindsets have deviated from the purpose thus the emergence of cybercriminals. This paper analyses the economic and socio-ethical implications of cybercrime in Nigeria. The paper uses both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection from secondary source publications for the work. It has been discovered that cybercriminals have destroyed a lot of organizations as well as some private individuals by illegally trespassing into their databases. Similarly, the greater percentage of the people involved in cyber crimes in Nigeria are the youth. The major causes of this malady are identified to be youth unemployment, the quest for wealth, lack of strong criminal laws as well poor parenting among others. This scenario has damaged the image of Nigeria before the international community and has scared a lot of foreign investors from coming to invest in Nigeria. This paper therefore narrates and suggests different ways through which this malady can be controlled.