Leverage ICT To Address Insecurity In Nigeria – ICT Expert
Na’ankwat Dariem, Abuja
An Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) expert, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, says there is an urgent need for a multifaceted strategy to address insecurity in Nigeria, this can only be achieved through the deployment of Technology.
In an interview with Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Prof. Yilwatda said geospatial data has the potential to tackle insecurity in the country.
He said conversations of criminals can be tracked using advanced telecommunication systems.
“We have digital mapping and we have bandits moving in their numbers. To some extent, we have improved the quality of our maps and we should improve the resolutions of our images to detect movement of vehicles and criminal activities.
“The telecommunication is not on the exclusive list, meaning that state governments can make their independent policies on telecommunication,” he stressed.
He called for the development of policies to track telephone records, filter the data and track communication and discussions.
According to him, we can work with internet exchange points to filter internet discussions that compromise the security systems.
He noted that such technology can reduce kidnapping if implemented effectively in state and local governments.
Professor Yilwatda also proposed the use of night vision goggles with the capacity to see over three kilometres at night and training of officers in the use of advanced security gadgets.
According to him, acquiring a minimum digital skill can also be a requirement for recruitment for security personnel.
“The state governments can get their satellite mapping of areas that have threats, schools, communities, and track the paths of kidnappers even at night.
“While recruiting medical doctors, there are minimum requirements, and that can also be applied in recruiting security personnel. We can make minimum digital skills a requirement for recruiting individuals into the police force or security agencies. For those people that don’t have it, we can do a bridging programme for them,” he said.
Prof Yilwatda asserted that as long as the officers can make calls, send text messages, use WhatsApp, it is technology and they are tech savvy already.
He said, “Those skills are sufficient enough for them to apply for security management as end users.’’
He emphasized that fighting insecurity is not the sole responsibility of security agencies, adding that Public Private Partnership can be adopted.
” Nothing stops the Nigeria security architecture to bring in experts to deploy technology, because the plan and strategy is with them but the technology is for the private sector, and that is the only way we can win this war.
“This war requires partnership, it is beyond the physical carrying of arms, deploying to the bush and moving around the bush. We should always plan ahead with technology to mitigate the activities of criminals, equip the police and provide inland security,” he emphasized.
The ICT expert stressed that the country also needs to address unemployment, poverty, and encourage local production with cheaper tariffs and religious intolerance as underlying factors to insecurity.
Another concern he raised that contributes to insecurity is desertification, adding that most national problems are man-made and can be resolved.
