Insecurity: IGP seeks ICT-based inter-agency collaboration

Nigeria Police Inspector General Usman Baba said technical and IT collaboration between security agencies will enhance the protection of lives and property in the country.

Baba said at Monday's inauguration of the Ogbum-Nu-Abali Community Intelligence and Surveillance Center in Port Harcourt, built by the Rivers State government.

He said the center would enhance the ability of the police to operate in accordance with international best practices.

"This project is a major boost to my policing program in Nigeria in contemporary times, which goes hand in hand with providing international best practice in the use of technology and ICT to the police with ease," Baba said.

While thanking Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for the facility, he said Port Harcourt, the state capital, would be under surveillance and guarded in the center's control room.

Baba noted that the services accessible at the center would be combined with the cybercrime unit of the police to improve policing of Nigerians.

The IGP said: "I want to assure you that the police will use this center wisely in conjunction with our cybercrime unit to combat all forms of crime and criminality. We will do what is necessary to fulfill our duty as expected."

The center, he noted, could also be opened up to other security agencies, based on collaboration, synergy and cooperation to achieve real-time monitoring of criminal incidents and the arrest of the culprits.

"You can sit and watch Rivers getting a real-time incident report and you can also have the option of sending a standby team to the station. Technology will make a lot of things easier. There's going to be 24/7 patrol as all of Port Harcourt will be under surveillance.

“I think it is the international practice that we will encourage, and also call on other state governments and other stakeholders to repeat such a project that will make the human factor an issue,” the IGP said.

While noting that insecurity was not the only problem facing the country, he said the main objective of the government itself was to keep everyone safe.

Baba added: "When you can move around, that's the essence of security. Security is collaborative, it's synergy and it's cooperation.

"We have received full support from the state government, and this center can also be used by all other security officers to keep the people of Rivers State safe.

"It is a problem for all security agencies to obtain the support, technical, technological and ICT-based, so that we can carry out our tasks effectively."

Wike also said the center which was handed over to the Nigerian police would enhance the efforts of security agencies in tackling crime in the state.

Wike said the center is equipped with the latest technology and will help improve the ability of police officers to fight crime and make the state safer.

He noted the need to create a more conducive climate for the people of the state to go about their various businesses and encourage the business community to operate their investment with a greater sense of security.

“Let me make it clear that this is our own contribution to ensuring that we have peace, fight insecurity and that those who do business and reside here sleep with both eyes closed,” said the governor.

Governor Wike assured that another intelligence and surveillance center would be built and handed over to the police within the next six months.

He said that together, the two centers will be part of his administration's continued support to build the capacity of security agencies in their fight against crime in the state

Wike further committed to purchase and donate 10 additional armored vehicles to the Intelligence and Surveillance Center to enhance the performance of officers who would be deployed to the center.

The governor noted that the fight against crime in the state had improved significantly since Baba's appointment as IGP, saying it was because instead of interfering, he encouraged professionalism among its officers.

“Allow me to commend our special guest of honor for your support of this crime-fighting command.

"I want to say in good faith that since you arrived we have had peace, we have had good relations with the police command, unlike before where in a year we had more of eight police commissioners.< /p>

“Thank you for not involving politics in security matters, and that is why today the people of Rivers can consider this state to be one of the safest,” Wike said.

Rivers State Police Commissioner Okon Effiong said the Wike administration's donation of the center was another of his outstanding and unwavering support to police in the state.

He...