60% STUDENT FRAUD CLAIM REFLECTS MORAL AND SYSTEMIC FAILURE IN NIGERIA — OBI
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By; Ganiyat Sunmola
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over what he described as a deepening moral and systemic crisis in Nigeria following claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, that about six in every 10 university students are involved in internet fraud.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi said the allegation, if true, points to more than just a crime problem, but a wider breakdown in values, leadership, and institutional responsibility across the country.
He said the report should not be ignored, adding that it raises serious questions about governance, role modelling, and the moral direction of Nigerian youths.
“The worrisome statement by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that 6 out of every 10 Nigerian university students are involved in ‘419’ is deeply troubling and must not be taken lightly,” Obi stated.
He warned that with Nigeria’s estimated 2 to 2.5 million university students, the implication of such figures would amount to a major national crisis if accurate.
“If indeed about 60% of them, roughly 1.4 million young people, are involved in fraud, then we are not just facing a crime issue; we are confronting a serious moral and systemic failure,” he said.
Obi attributed the alleged trend to a weakening value system in society, arguing that young people often reflect the behaviour they see in leadership and public institutions.
According to him, “When a system appears to reward wrongdoing, when integrity is not upheld, and when those in leadership are associated with allegations of forgery and dishonesty without consequence, it sends a dangerous message.”
The former Anambra State governor said the situation reflects a broader erosion of moral standards, urging urgent national reflection and corrective action.
He added, “Nigeria must now examine itself. This is not about condemning our young people. It is about accepting that leadership sets the tone.”
Obi further stressed the need to rebuild integrity in governance and public life, insisting that accountability must be applied consistently and without bias to restore public trust.
“If we do not demonstrate integrity at the top, we cannot expect it at the bottom,” he said.
He called for renewed efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s value system and create conditions that reward honesty, discipline, and hard work.
His comments follow growing concerns raised by the EFCC over increasing cybercrime among university students, with the agency describing the trend as a potential national security threat and calling for reforms in tertiary institutions and societal values.
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