Day: July 24, 2023

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 12 suspects for conveying solid minerals from Kaduna State and Plateau to Port Harcourt in Rivers without relevant permits.

The Commandant of NSCDC in Edo, Mr Samuel Dan, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja.

“My command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with conveying solid minerals (conza stones, iron ore and coal), without relevant permits,@ he said.

Dan added that his command impounded four trucks.

He said that when the vehicles were stopped, it was discovered that they neither had their waybills nor licences permitting them to deal on mining.

“So, we saw them as people who were illegally conveying solid minerals or illegally dealing with them for some one.

“For you to deal on solid minerals, you need a permit, the approval of government and permission from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals before you are even given a mining site,” commandant said.

According to him, mining is a source of revenue to the Nigerian Government and if those engaging in illegal mining and solid minerals are left to continue, they will be defrauding the government.

” So, it is based on this that we impound the vehicles.

“Investigation is ongoing now, and we have given them rooms to make available their permits and licences, and if any of them does, then we free them.

“We are taking every necessary step to forestall any planned acts of terrorism, particularly criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their property and lives.”

Dan, who called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of miners, said government should not fold its arms without controlling the activities of miners.

According to him, it has been established that about 22, 000 weapons of mass destruction are related to mining, construction and medical.

“So, if we are talking of security in the country, those things have to be controlled.

“Governments have to regulate the activities of people that are in possession of these things.

“The same thing is applicable to this mining, the government expects anybody who deals with solid mineral to possess licence before dealing on it.

“t is good for government to regulate the activities of miners who involve in explosives, explosive device, especially now that most of these activities are carried out by foreigners,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has tasked social media users in the country on awareness of their digital rights.

The Executive Director, CITAD, Mr Yunusa Zakari –Yau, who made the call in Abuja, explained that abuse of privacy of citizens online via electronic surveillance was an abuse of digital rights.

Digital rights are those human rights and legal rights that allow individuals access, use create and share digital contents while using computers, electronic devices and telecommunication networks.

Zakari -Yau made the call while presenting a lecture on “the foundational basis for digital rights” at a three day capacity building workshop on digital rights organised for Staff of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja.

He said that the importance of becoming more aware of one’s individual rights as a social media user will enhance cyber security and protect the user’s legal right while accessing the internet.

“There are a number of laws that protect specific digital rights such as personal data and privacy protection act, and the child protection online policy.

“There are struggles to enact the Anti-hate speech law and the internet falsehood bill also known as the social media regulation bill and the digital rights bill are contests over the digital space,” he said.

According to him, hopes are high that the new National Assembly will pass the digital rights bill to curb online exploitation of children, gender based violence and internet denial and shut down.

Earlier, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Anthony Ojukwu, said in his remarks that digital rights in an evolving society, is an aspect of fundamental human rights that must be recognised, respected and protected by all.

“Digital rights are emerging discuss on impact of digital technology on every aspect of human endeavor. Digital technologies hold tremendous potentials for improving human lives and ability to develop.

“These technologies present challenges with negative impacts such as censorship, inversion of privacy, illegal surveillance and harassment of women and children,” he added.

NAN also reports that the National Human Rights Commission is mandated for the protection, promotion and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria, which disposes the Commission to every aspect of activities that impact on human rights.

The Executive Secretary lauded CITAD for identifying and desiring to expand the frontiers of discuss on digital rights through awareness creation and capacity building for institutions with the mandate to defend human rights.

Mrs Ogoma Izimeh, a lawyer and participant at the event, said that digital rights are basic fundamental human rights and individuals seeking redress should approach designates bodies who are responsible for the protection of human rights

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo), a socio-cultural organisation of young Igbo professionals, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to be more professional in its operations.

OCHIE Igbo gave the advice following a recent tweet on the official Twitter handle of the DSS describing some legal practitioners from southeast region as “charge-and-bail” lawyers.

The group, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Caleb Ekene Onwe, cautioned the security agency against comments capable of inciting the public.

It said that the DSS, by intelligence structure and constitutional responsibility, “supposed to guard against internal conflict, promote harmony, unity and preserve the Nigerian state as an agency of the government.”

It said it was, however, disheartening that the security outfit went so low to making unwholesome statements.

“The attention of the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation, otherwise known as OCHIE Igbo, has been drawn to the unwholesome comment by the Department of State Security Services in its Tweets via its verified official Tweeter handle (Department of State Services (DSS) @OfficialDSSNG) on July 18, 2023 by 12:50PM.

In the tweet, the DSS was quoted as saying, “Charge-and-bail, overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer Maxwell Okpara mobilises other likeminded lawyers against DGSS.

“Futile Efforts. Well, Nigerians, beware! This is in bad faith. Transferred aggression.

“A Biafran republic agitator and outlawed IPOB counsel defending the suspended CBN governor.

“Is IPOB defending one of theirs? What a contradiction, what’s the connection, may Maxwell be properly educated on points of law, please.”

The group said that an attempt by the DSS to frame the lawyers up for terrorism by referring to them as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) lawyers was unacceptable, since IPOB had been proscribed by the Federal Government for being a terrorist group..

It said that DSS should be wary of ethnic profiling targeting innocent, decent, hapless and harmless indigenes of the southeast.

“We wish to caution the DSS that not every man or woman from the East is an IPOB member.

“A state-funded security organisation, whose primary duty is to gather sensitive security information and processed it into actionable intelligence and deploy same towards the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians, instead, abdicated its statutory responsibility to do the opposite.

“We at OCHIE Igbo are occupied with the task to engineer the Rebirth of a progressive 21st century community across the southeast zone through partnership with various government institutions and private establishments interested in the development of the entire region.”

The group, therefore, said that the DSS, as a refined intelligence agency, owed Nigerians an apology, not because of anything, “but to reinvent and restore our confidence in the service and also reclaim their dignity.”

It also called on President Bola Tinubu to caution the security agency against acts that could destabilise the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

As the wind of change sweeps across the financial landscape, embracing enhanced treasury management is no longer an option but an imperative.

It is, therefore important, for institutions of higher learning in the country to recognise the immense value of treasury management and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop curricular that would expand treasury management beyond account and finance.

By doing so, they will pave the way for a new generation of financial professionals, armed with a comprehensive understanding of treasury management principles.

Finance experts affirm that in the realm of financial management, the intricate interplay of numbers, assets, and investments shapes the landscape on which accounting and finance have stood tall.

“The hidden within the realm of finance lies a captivating secret, the distinct and awe-inspiring world of treasury management, an artful blend of strategy, risk management, and financial wizardry”, said the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM) in a recent report.

“Treasury management is the term for all the activities and processes involved in managing a company’s or organisation’s money.

“This includes tasks like cash flow forecasting, investing, risk assessment, and day-to-day operations like banking and invoicing, according to a report by Nomentia, a cash and treasury management firm.

“Treasury management is the process that involves collecting and managing cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities of a company. In business, it is a key aspect of organisation’s financial stability”, says CFI.

CFI seeks to enhance skills and productivity in finance and banking professionals’ knowledge and productivity.

Mr Olumide Adedoyin, the Registrar, CITM, shades more light on why institutions of higher learning in the country should emulate the counterparts in other parts of the world.

“Treasury management possesses a unique allure that sets it apart from its well-known cousins, while accounting and finance focus on tracking and analyzing financial data, treasury management delves deeper“.

According to him, higher institutions in those countries have recognised that treasury management is aimed at optimising the organisation’s financial resources, mitigate risks, and maximise profitability.

He told a recent stakeholders workshop on treasury management that in Nigeria’s higher institutions budding financial professionals are imparted with the age-old wisdom of accounting and finance.

To Adedoyin, it is essential to acknowledge that the rudiments of treasury management differ significantly from what is conventionally taught.

“The conventional curriculum, though invaluable, often neglects the nuances of treasury management, leaving aspiring professionals ill-equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead”, he said.

The registrar said it was imperative to bridge the gap between theory and practice, adding that for universities to produce graduates with requisite knowledge especially in the areas of treasury management, partnership is imperative.

He said CITM offers a transformative pathway to harness the full potential of treasury management because of its potential to equip individuals with specialized skills and knowledge.

This, according to him, is essential to navigate the complex world of financial management with finesse in an era where financial landscapes evolve at breakneck speed.

According to him, institutions offering post-graduate courses in finance and accounting must embrace the need to partner the institute with a view to deepening their programmes towards treasury management.

“Through this collaboration, institutions gain access to cutting-edge materials, world-best practices, and the professional touch and by integrating treasury management into their curriculum, they empower their students to shine in a competitive global economy,” he said.

Daniel Akeju, a financial analyst, is of the opinion that managing the treasury has become the only way to push the narrative when it comes to building a sustainable economy.

He said there must be a paradigm shift on national development process by equipping professionals with the latest skills and global best practices in their disciplines such as treasury management.

`As a professional within the finance gamut I am of the opinion that the nation’s institutions of higher learning should buy into build a virile workforce and this can only be achieved by training and retraining of our workforce”, he said.

He said expanding the horizon of accounting and finance graduates towards the more comprehensive treasury management should be embraced by finance and economy stakeholders.

He said there is need for the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that universities running treasury management at master level collaborated with professionals in treasury management with a view to producing well-grounded graduates.

He said it was essential for governments to collaborate with organisations such as the CITM and regulatory bodies like the NUC to build a strong economy and align the nation’s higher education with global best practices.

According to him, the collaboration will significantly benefit the country by promoting the practice of treasury management, enhancing financial education, and ensuring that the curriculum of universities and higher institutions meets the demands of the industry.

“The Federal Government can leverage CITM’s expertise and resources to develop and implement sound financial policies, risk management frameworks, and efficient cash flow management strategies.

“By incorporating CITM’s guidance and adopting best practices, the government can optimize revenue generation, manage public debt effectively, and enhance fiscal discipline, leading to economic stability and growth,” he said.

As the global finance and accounting community shift attention to more comprehensive and transparent treasury management, experts say Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

It is incumbent on institutions of higher learning and stakeholders to partner to ensure that future mangers of the nation’s financial resources are well equipped with the right skills to do so.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The death toll of victims of the 4 storey building that collapsed in Douala 5 sub division has risen to 16 with 3 children aged 8 months, 1 year and 1year and a half, official figures have revealed.

As at now, 21 persons are receiving treatment in various health facilities in Douala and the fire fighting unit has announced a search for missing persons will wrap up on Monday.

On Sunday night, a 4 storey building with 31 persons collapsed at Mobil Guinness-Ange Raphael in the Douala 5 sub division leaving many in pain and tears.

The minister of housing and urban development Celestine Ketcha will pay a visit to the site of incident.

Source: Cameroon News Agency