Day: June 19, 2023

The Association of Licenced Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria (ALDAPCON) on Monday commended President Bola Tinubu for adopting the Data Protection Act.

It described the Act as an enabling law for the growth of digital economy.

President Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act on Monday, June 12.

It provides a legal framework for the protection of personal information, and the practice of data protection in Nigeria.

The new law established the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and replaced the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) which had the mandate to handle data protection and privacy issues.

The NDPB was established by erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2022.

ALDAPCON’s Chairman, Mr Ivan Anya, commended Tinubu in a statement issued in Abuja by its Secretary, Mr Aliyu Abdulaziz.

Anya said in the statement that the Act would accelerate Nigeria’s economic development when fully implemented and effectively monitored.

He made the remarks when he led executive members of ALDAPCON on a working visit to Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, NDPC.

Anya said ALDAPCON had always championed the course of data protection and compliance.

“We commend President Tinubu for this progressive Act and we congratulate Nigerians and commend the great works put in by the NDPC to ensure the Bill is passed.

“The Data Protection Act will help to enhance data privacy and confidentiality of Nigerians; enable effective dataflow and boost Nigeria’s steadily growing data protection industry.

“The growth will necessitate new levels of skillsets and jobs that will impact significantly on the economy; protect the country’s data sovereignty and enhance the GDP.

“The new law will ensure clarity in the roles of data processors and data controllers,’’ he said.

Anya urged the Commission to increase its level of engagement with stakeholders to ensure thorough implementation of the Act.

He requested for signed copies of the Bill to be made available to ALDAPCON members who would be carrying out comparative analyses as well as develop White Papers.

Responding, Olatunji encouraged Data Protection Controller Organisations (DPCOs) to take the Code of Practice serious and render quality service to their clients.

He agreed with the association on the need for strong awareness around issues of data protection and urged DPCOs to leverage on the media to build a strong industry voice.

The national commissioner assured of the Commission’s support and tasked ALDAPCON to employ competent staff to enhance the growth of their respective companies and to build strategic networks amongst themselves.

DPCOs are licensed by the Commission to monitor compliance with extant data regulations and ensure that data controllers do not breach the provisions of the Act.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Area Court sitting in Jos on Monday sentenced a 24-year-old butcher, Mathew Danjuma, to one year imprisonment for stabbing his colleague.

The judge, Mr hawomi Bokkos, who jailed Danjuma after he confessed to the crime, however, gave him an option of N50,000 fine.

He also ordered him to pay N35,000 as compensation to the complainant.

Bokkos said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to those who would want to indulge in such acts.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported on May 21 at the C’ Division by Umar Muhammed, the complainant.

Gokwat said the convict got angry with Muhammed during an altercation and stabbed him with a knife.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of the Section 241 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 31,675 drug offenders including 35 barons in 29 months.

The Chairman, NDLEA, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said this at a briefing to mark the 2023 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, on Monday in Abuja.

Marwa was represented by the agency’s Secretary, Mr Shadrach Haruna.

“In 29 months, we have arrested 31, 675 drug offenders, including 35 barons; successfully prosecuted and got convicted 5,147 of them,

“Over 11,000 other cases are still pending in court, while 23,725 drug users had been counselled and rehabilitated, majority of them through brief interventions.

“At least 6.3 million kilograms of various illicit substances have been recovered in response to our efforts to sweep up drugs and shut down the distribution channels,” Marwa said.

He added that the Agency had within the period destroyed 852.142 hectares of cannabis farms and dismantled three clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.

”I can assure you that even as we speak, NDLEA agents are busy with interdiction activities somewhere, “ the chairman said.

Marwa also said that the Agency was pursuing drug supply reduction with drug demand reduction, which has to do with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users.

“It should go without saying that we must strike a balance between these two crucial components if we are to achieve our desired utopia of a drug-free society.

“NDLEA has made significant investments in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation over the last two years. The doors of our rehabilitation facilities are open at all times.

“In the last 29 months, we have acquired a few more rehabilitation centres given to us as donations, while we have also obtained the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of regional model rehabs.”

He added that more private treatment facilities were cooperating with NDLEA, which has also invested in a “toll-free, round-the-clock call centre that provides teletherapy”.

On the UN Day against drug abuse and trafficking, Marwa said that the theme, “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention,” was in furtherance of the whole-of-society approach to taming the drug scourge.

According to him, the theme is especially pertinent to the Nigerian situation, as the Agency strengthens law enforcement efforts to cut down on the supply of drugs in the society.

Speaking, the Country Representative, United Nations Office On Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Mr Oliver Stolpe said that the organisation would strengthen collaborations and efforts towards drug demand reduction.

Stolpe said that there were millions of children to be reached on dangers of drug abuse, adding that the NDLEA had worked hard on the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

“We have increasingly watched how NDLEA have worked so hard to detect drug trafficking. We will place specific attention to drug demand reduction

“We are going to further strengthen our collaboration and efforts to increase the benefits of international cooperation with the specific target at reducing drug trafficking with the help of NDLEA.

“We will make sure that the public, the primary health care providers are better prepared to take care of basic drug counselling unit and knowing how to take care of people suffering from drug use disorder.

“We need to further improve on the availability of treatment. We need to strengthen our efforts and major concerns on schools and also help the children get skills on how to stay away from illicit drugs,“ the UNODC official said.

NAN reports that the 2023 World Drug Day celebration is being conducted in partnership with the agency’s stakeholders like the UNODC and MTN Foundation.

Some of the events lined up include essay and the quiz competitions, Walk Against Drugs, NGO activities, and a campaign to raise awareness among young people who are not in school.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Olufemi Akinjobi, says the army has adopted realistic training that will enhance its operations against insecurity.

The GOC stated this at the 1 Division Operation planning cadre for officers within the 1 Division Area of Responsibility on Monday in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five days training has brought together participants of the ranks of Captains to Colonels in the 1 Division area of responsibility.

Akinjobi said the workshop was organised to refresh the personnel on the various aspects of operations planning process in order to enhance their skills and improve their capacity in single and joint service operations planning process.

“In line with the Chief of Army Staff vision which is a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned Missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria,’’ said Akinjobi.

According to him, warfare has become increasingly complexed due to changes in the nature of threats and advancement in technology.

He said further that the armies the world over are continually engaged in training and capacity building to enable them surmount emerging security challenges.

“The NA equally recognises these changes and therefore seeks to develop capacity through realistic training that will enhance its operations,“ he said.

Akinjobi said 1 Division experiences in Birnin Gwari, Falgore, Kagara and other forests, as well as other experiences in other area of operations in the division, had helped in garnering useful lessons and identified gaps in the conduct of their operations.

He said, 1 division operations planning cadre for 2023 was expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts by the Division to meets its operational needs in the areas of warfare and operations planning, military decision making process, intelligence preparation of the battle space and logistics in operational planning amongst others.

He urged the participants to have an open mind in order to derive maximum benefits from the Cadre.

The GOC appreciate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, for providing the resources for this Cadre and for his exemplary and inspiring leadership, support and motivation to this Division, which has also aided the successes recorded so far in our operations.

NAN reports that the five-day workshop will witness series of lectures.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria