The Way To Go

Over time insecurity in Nigeria has morphed into different dynamics which require re-adjustments in the strategy employed in tackling it. Most violent incidents unaccounted for, and their perpetrators still at large, are largely due to the lack of database to fall back on in profiling crime. In addition, without the availability of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring, it is difficult to prevent crime, tackle criminalities and ensure efficient monitoring of security situation in all nooks and crannies of the country.
Porous borders have been associated with the proliferation of small and light weapons, infiltration from neigbouring countries and lack of monitoring of activities in the nation’s borders. With surveillance monitoring equipment, the issue of inaccessible areas will become history and security personnel will be able to remotely monitor activities at the border.

With the ever-evolving opportunities of modern technology, sophisticated gadgets are being utilised by developed nations in tackling crime and ensuring relatively safe societies. Nigeria against the background of tremendous insecurities, should key into the new ideas and innovations technology brings in tackling security challenges. Issues of lack of database, digitalised record-keeping, crime tracking, CCTV monitoring and border management will be significantly addressed. However promising this looks, Nigeria needs to have the technological capacity and manpower to effectively utilise these digitalised security tools.

As part of the Security Sector Reform (SSR), digitalisation of security processes should be mainstreamed and all security personnel trained to possess the requisite expertise needed for handling modern technological gadgets used by security outfits in saner climes. Government should fund the process of building a national database able to use facial recognition and fingerprints in profiling people in event of crime or violence. CCTV monitoring should be taken seriously in identifying patterns and suspicious movements in areas prone to insecurities.

Regardless of the capital intensiveness of these recommendations, for the nation to adequately surmount her numerous security challenges, some material sacrifices need to be made. This is in terms of employing the use of sophisticated security gadgets in fighting insecurity, personnel training, strictly observed maintenance culture, to ensure sustainability. For Nigeria to keep up with the new dynamics of insecurity, it has to employ modern day technologies.