The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has expressed readiness to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to check illicit financing flow in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement by the CIBN Head of Corporate Communication, Nelson Olagundoye, and made available to Financial Street on Saturday.
According to the statement, the CIBN President/Chairman of Council, Dr Bayo Olugbemi, made the call at a recent official visit to the Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (Rtd).
The visit was aimed at deepening relationship in making Nigeria drug-free, Olugbemi stated.
“As part of the collaboration, the institute is proposing an annual joint conference that will focus on proffering solutions to the challenge,” he said.
The CIBN president also said the institute was ready to collaborate with the NDLEA Academy on relevant certification programmes, as well as provide technical expertise to enhance the existing competencies in the academy.
According to the statement, the CIBN President implored support of NDLEA on advocacy and awareness campaign to the teeming youths on the dangers hard drugs pose to health, by leveraging on tertiary institutions within its catchment areas.
Commending the agency for its fight against smuggling, production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs, the CIBN President urged NDLEA to support the proposed amendment of the CIBN Act of 2007, aimed at enhancing the power of the disciplinary tribunal to discipline erring bankers, among others.
“About 15 million Nigerian youths are into illicit drug consumption which raises the level of criminality in the country, especially banditry and incessant kidnap of school pupils,” the NDLEA boss was quoted as saying.
Marwa also said the agency has been dealing “drastically” with a supply chain of illicit drugs, hinting that over N90bn worth of drugs has been confiscated while going after the properties of drug barons.
He gave the assurance to collaborate with the institute on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and relevant banking operations fundamental to the fight against criminality in the country.
