By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

As parts of federal government efforts to enhance cybercrime detection and prosecution,l as well as provide digital forensics training and equipment to law enforcement, among others, the South-South National Cybercrime Centre, NP-NCCC, will be commissioned in July.

The facility, which will serve the cybercrime and digital forensics needs of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, is located in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital.

The Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Tokoni Peter Igoin, who hosted the Commissioner of Police, National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC), Abuja CP Oche Ifeanyi , during the official inspection of the South-South Annex of the NPF-NCCC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, said the office remains committed to deploying innovative, law-compliant systems that protect fintech infrastructure through regulatory intelligence, reduce road extortion via AI-powered checkpoints, among others.

He said: “The annex and its connected innovations form part of a broader legal and national strategy to secure Nigeria’s digital space, supported by the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which provides the legal mandate for the establishment of cybercrime centers, digital surveillance, and ICT-enabled policing solutions.

“This inspection reflects five months of strategic execution since our January 31, 2025 stakeholders’ engagement at the Old Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. With zero government funding, the annex has been made possible by trusted private partners including PonkebiNG, PalmPay, Easyswap, Opay, and funding support from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“As we move towards the commissioning of the Annex in the month of July, 2025, this inspection confirms the government’s commitment to digital transformation in national security while upholding constitutional rights and legal integrity.”

Earlier, in a demonstration of active cooperation, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police led the visiting Commissioner on a tour of the state’s CCTV surveillance infrastructure, showing real-time digital inclusion efforts through digital surveillance systems deployed across critical areas of Bayelsa State.