Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has cautioned Nigerian banks against granting loans without credible collateral, warning that such practices often lead to insider abuse and non-performing loans.

Olukoyede issued the warning recently when he received Mufutau Olawale Abiola, chief audit executive, First Bank Plc, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Commission in Ikoyi.

Speaking through  Bawa Usman Kaltungo, acting zonal director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi,  Olukoyede expressed grave concerns over how banks in the country grant loans, noting that loans backed only by personal guarantees, including those of top executives, are inadequate and put depositors’ funds at risk.

He said: “We have issues with banks’ mode of giving loans. The process often shows insider abuse.”

While emphasizing that banks should desist from issuing loans without visible or credible collateral, he added that “Top-down loans are not secured. You cannot give a loan based solely on the personal guarantee of the Chief Executive.

This is not security. Banks must not issue loans without verifiable collateral. If there is proper collateral for loans obtained by bank customers, this will reduce the rate of non-performing loans.”

He further warned that a bank is only a custodian, and that giving loans without adequate collateral “amounts to tampering with depositors’ funds.”

He also urged banks to implement measures, including thorough due diligence on its customers, to prevent loan defaults.

According to him, “Even in situations where you outsource due diligence, there must be a clause of liability,” he said.

Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to continued cooperation with the bank in tackling financial crimes, he urged the bank to release its staff promptly when invited during investigations of alleged financial crimes.

“When we invite your staff, especially where insider connivance is suspected, you must release them so we can jointly fight economic and financial crimes. We must work together to stay ahead of criminals. Let me add that where money is, that is where people’s hearts are. Most of the time, we escalate issues to foreign security agencies as may be necessary,” he added.

Earlier, Abiola expressed gratitude to the EFCC leadership for the engagement, noting that the visit was intended to strengthen the existing collaboration between the bank and the Commission.

While urging the EFCC to expedite investigations into cases involving its staff and others, Abiola also disclosed that a designated team in his bank handles requests from the EFCC.

Nigeria needs some 480,000 data protection officers (DPOs), to develop, implement, and oversee organizations’ data privacy strategy to ensure compliance with laws like the GDPR and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

Currently only about 10,000 individuals possess the necessary certification highlighting a major skills gap, according Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Olatunji spoke on Monday at the second edition of its Data Protection Officers training and certification programme in Abuja and Lagos.

He said that the NDPC has domesticated the certification of data protection officers (DPOs) to address the widening gap in certified DPOs, despite steady growth in the number of trained professionals over the past three years.

“At the moment, we have about 10,000 certified DPOs to work in that space. The gap of about 480,000 still exists,” he said.

The shortfall reflects rising demand for data privacy skills as more businesses, government agencies and digital platforms process personal data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

Olatunji said the number of certified DPOs has grown from fewer than 1,000 three years ago to over 10,000, while more than 27,000 professionals now operate within Nigeria’s wider data protection ecosystem.

He said the commission is scaling up training and certification efforts to close the gap and position Nigeria as a leading source of data protection talent in Africa.

“Our goal is to make Nigeria the go-to country when it comes to sourcing qualified data protection officers in Africa,” he said, adding that the certification meets global standards.

The NDPC said expanding the talent pool could also support job creation and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Tolu Fadipe, head of research and development at the commission, said data protection is becoming critical as the country moves deeper into digital systems and emerging technologies.

“As we move towards a digital economy, data becomes central and protecting that data is essential,” she said.

Adeola Sopade, lead trainer, said participants in the programme would be trained on global best practices, including data protection principles, compliance requirements and handling user data requests.

The training also includes practical exposure and internships with organisations to improve job readiness.

Participants said the programme offers opportunities for young Nigerians to build careers in technology and prepare for emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.

Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has warned that flight delays across the country may soon become inevitable as it considers implementing nationwide flow control measures to reduce mounting physical and mental fatigue among controllers.

NATCA said the decision is being driven by worsening working conditions, inadequate manpower, and the continued decline of critical communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure.

In a firm statement jointly signed by Edino Ilemona Amos, president, and Umar Fahad, general secretary, the association warned that air traffic controllers are being stretched beyond safe limits and alluded to serious concerns about the reliability of the country’s airspace management.

NATCA insisted its alarm is based on operational realities, not sentiment.

Controllers, it said, are working under “sustained operational deficiencies, inadequate working tools, unresolved welfare issues, and severe psychological strain”, conditions it described as incompatible with a job that demands total concentration and split-second decision-making.

A major trigger, the association noted, is the continued use of outdated communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure.

According to NATCA, critical systems remain unreliable, forcing controllers to improvise around technical gaps that should not exist in a modern aviation environment.

It cautioned that “no airspace can be truly safe when the people responsible for managing it are compelled to operate beyond the safe limits of their available systems,” warning that infrastructure decay is directly increasing operational risk.

The association also flagged a worrying shortage of structured training and manpower development. With aviation evolving rapidly, NATCA said the absence of consistent retraining and long-term workforce planning is leaving the system exposed.

It warned that without urgent investment, Nigeria risks a shortage of adequately trained controllers, even as flight traffic continues to grow, an imbalance that could weaken safety margins.

Working conditions, the association added, are equally troubling. Some control towers, it said, fall short of basic safety standards. It pointed to the recent fire incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where controllers reportedly escaped under dangerous conditions before returning to duty soon after.

NATCA said the incident highlights the hidden dangers controllers face daily, often without adequate protection or recovery time.

Beyond operational risks, the association described a deepening welfare crisis. Many experienced controllers, it revealed, have remained on Grade Level 16 for up to 13 years, a situation it called “deeply demoralising” in a profession that demands long-term commitment and discipline.

Delayed promotions, it warned, are eroding morale and sending the wrong signal to professionals responsible for safeguarding lives.

The association also criticised the failure to review professional and aeromedical allowances, which have remained unchanged since 2012 despite rising economic pressures. It stressed that these are not luxury benefits but essential support needed to maintain certification, health standards, and operational readiness.

Further compounding the issue are inconsistencies in the payment of post-licence rating allowances. NATCA said controllers are not being properly remunerated in line with approved structures, creating financial strain and uncertainty.

Despite repeated efforts to resolve the discrepancies, the association said the issue remains unresolved, undermining trust and deepening frustration within the ranks.

In addition, claims for legitimate duty-related expenses have remained unpaid for months, forcing controllers to personally absorb operational costs, an unsustainable situation in the current economic climate.

To ease manpower pressure, NATCA proposed re-engaging retired controllers at slightly lower grade levels, subject to medical fitness. This, it said, would help retain critical experience, strengthen mentoring, and reduce the burden on younger personnel.

Given the long and rigorous training required to produce qualified controllers, the association described the proposal as a practical step toward maintaining operational stability.

NATCA also raised concerns over structural imbalances within the system, noting that senior controllers are increasingly working under junior officers in other departments. This, it said, has “deepened frustration, damaged dignity, and weakened confidence” across the profession.

The association warned that morale has dropped sharply and is now part of a wider welfare crisis that could impact overall system performance.

While acknowledging efforts by aviation authorities, NATCA called for urgent and decisive intervention to address infrastructure decay, welfare challenges, and manpower gaps.

“These issues are not only about staff welfare; they are about the safety of passengers, airlines, airport users, and the entire aviation ecosystem,” the statement said.

With the threat of a nationwide flight slowdown looming, stakeholders are now under pressure to act quickly, as the consequences of inaction could extend far beyond delays to the core of aviation safety in Nigeria.