The Nigerian government has called for the establishment of internationally harmonized laws to tackle cyber-enabled organized immigration crimes.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the appeal while addressing global leaders at the Border Security Summit in London, hosted by UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, he stressed the urgent need for a coordinated international response to combat human trafficking and illicit migration facilitated through digital platforms.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that new global laws should include standardized definitions and penalties for online human trafficking, alongside unified agreements to dismantle financial networks supporting illegal migration.
He advocated for real-time content moderation to detect and remove advertisements recruiting individuals into smuggling and trafficking networks.
“We need stronger reporting mechanisms for law enforcement to access critical data on suspicious accounts, as well as AI-driven early warning systems to flag illicit migration content before it spreads,” he stated.
The minister underscored the role of technology companies in addressing digital exploitation, urging them to implement stricter regulations to prevent their platforms from becoming recruitment hubs for human traffickers.
“Big tech firms must take greater responsibility for the misuse of their platforms by criminal syndicates. These organized networks have weaponized digital tools to expand their reach, target vulnerable populations, and evade law enforcement,” Tunji-Ojo warned.
He further stressed that technology has enabled these groups to thrive, necessitating stronger digital intelligence-sharing among international security organizations.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has been taking decisive actions to curb online criminal activities linked to migration and organized crime.
Tunji-Ojo highlighted the integration of advanced cyber tools by the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Police Force to disrupt digital recruitment networks.
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“Our Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act, in conjunction with the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Registration Act, provides a robust legal foundation to prosecute those exploiting digital platforms for illegal migration,” he added.
To bolster efforts, Nigeria is investing in cyber-forensic training for immigration security agencies to track, investigate, and dismantle these digital networks.
The government is also expanding public awareness campaigns to educate citizens, particularly young people, on the dangers of online recruitment into irregular migration and trafficking.
Tunji-Ojo called for enhanced collaboration with community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society groups to strengthen grassroots efforts in combating digital exploitation.
“Governments must commit to a global framework for digital accountability to prevent criminal syndicates from exploiting gaps in online governance,” he urged.
With the evolving nature of digital crime, the minister reiterated that no nation is immune, emphasizing that international cooperation is key to dismantling these cyber-enabled criminal networks.