The Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime Senator Fatai Buhari has absolved the Senate of any complicity with the communication service provider to increase the data tariff which is billed to start on1st of December.

Senator Buhari while speaking at a Breakfast media chat organized by South West Group of Online Publishers held at CEOAfrica's Building Onireke,Ibadan on Wednesday said the Senate is not aware of the development  and will not allow the communication company to further exploit Nigeria.

“The Senate is not aware of such decision, it could be a decision from their organization and we are not part of the decision but at our own level we will not allow it to fly because it will definitely affect businesses and operations of many Nigerians”

 Buhari who also lamented the increasing rate of cybercrime in Nigeria said ” cybercrime is something that is endemic in our system, It is indeed horrible, this  is something growing  in astronomical rate  and we have to fight it but as I am speaking now, the fight against cybercrime is not effective”.

United Kingdom budgeted 22 billion British pounds for  fight against cybercrime , United states of America budgeted 43 billion US dollars but here in Nigeria we did not have a single kobo in the budget for cybercrime and that is why we continue to have issues “.

 “We have great Nigerians who are talented and can use their talent to develop this country but because of the situation we have found ourselves in this country many of them are using it the other way round and its very painful’.

He disclosed an ICT conference is already on the way  in Nigeria where most of the issues would be addressed particularly on how we can use the ICT to generate more income to develop our economy like other countries of the world.

The APC senator representing Oyo North however appealed to journalists to support the government in fighting cybercrime and other related issues in Nigeria “You journalists are very vital in this fight against cybercrime and corruption, you have to support us, its  your responsibility to use your platforms to promote and develop Nigeria positively that doesn’t mean you  should not criticise the government but you must also join in the advocacy for a better Nigeria.