The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has identified laziness, lack of patriotism, and peer pressure as the major factors pushing Nigerian youth into cybercrime and other criminal acts.
Mr Olukoyede made this known on Monday during an orientation and sensitisation programme for new students at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Nigerian Air Force, Mando. He was represented by Nana Fatima Abubakar from the EFCC’s Kaduna zonal directorate.
In a statement released by the anti-graft agency, Mr Olukoyede explained that many young Nigerians are largely responsible for cybercrime in the country. The statement said that “peer pressure, lack of patriotism, greed, and laziness are the main catalysts for youth involvement in internet fraud.”
The EFCC chairman also warned about the growing link between cybercrime, drug abuse, and criminal fetish activities. He noted that these dangerous habits have become closely connected with internet fraud operations, putting many young people at risk of losing focus and moral direction.
Charging youths to embrace integrity and discipline, the statement added that there is “no shortcut to wealth.” It emphasised that “hard work, perseverance, and dedication remain the true paths to success.”
According to the EFCC, the quest to get rich quickly often leads to severe consequences, including “loss of freedom, image damage, depression, and untimely death in some instances.”
The anti-graft boss further urged students across Nigeria to support the national campaign against corruption and financial crimes. The statement also advised that students can report such offences through the EFCC’s Eagle Eye App, which ensures complete anonymity for whistleblowers.