Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has declared that robust collaboration among security agencies will serve as a vital platform to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies in leveraging the INTERPOL’s tools to foster lasting peace and security across the country.
He stated this at the workshop on the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) with the theme: Strengthening Internal Security: The Path To A Safer Nigeria, organized by the Ministry of Police Affairs in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.
He expressed the firm belief that the insights and outcomes gained from the workshop will be critical in addressing the pervasive insecurity that currently afflicts Nigeria, adding: “We must acknowledge that for decades, our nation has grappled with the chronic issue of criminal victimization, which has severely impacted the safety and well-being of our citizens. In recent years, we have faced an alarming rise in insurgency and terrorism, which have taken on increasingly complex international dimensions.”
In a post-event statement made available to journalists, Head of Information and Public Relations Unit at the ministry, Bolaji O. Kazeem, a Deputy Director, Gaidam explained that the erosion of safety in Nigeria has extended far beyond the direct consequences of crime, which he said, required a robust response to strengthen the country’s internal security framework with the aid of advanced international policing tools, insisting that strategies to combat threats must necessarily improve as technology evolves.
“INTERPOL is a prestigious organization with a membership spanning 196 countries, actively engaged in combating terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and cybercrime, among other pressing issues. This Workshop is convened with the intent of exploring and understanding INTERPOL’s resources, enabling us to effectively integrate these tools into our internal, regional and global security efforts,” he stated.
Pointing out that by adopting methodologies akin to those employed by the INTERPOL, Nigeria could significantly mitigate internal security challenges in view of the myriad security threats facing the nation today, he said: “It is imperative that we embrace international standards to safeguard lives, property and infrastructure, thereby fostering economic development and stability.”
He enumerated some of the remarkable strides made over the past year in fulfilling the mandates of the Ministry to include the establishment of a National Criminal Data Fusion Center (NCDFC) for the Nigeria Police Force; 24/7 internet service for the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS); signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with INTERPOL; automating Police Specialized Services; providing WAPIS terminals; granting security agencies access to critical information and adoption of a legal framework related to the WAPIS.
Speaking, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who was represented by Major General Olatokunbo Bello, expressed gratitude for the honour to be part of the workshop, noting that due to the rising security challenges in the country, the workshop will provide an opportunity for the participants to rob minds, share ideas and collaborate to improve INTERPOL activities that will help in tackling security issues in Nigeria.
On his part, Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd) stated that security has taken a new dimension in the 21st century and that the threats were no longer primarily coming from the conventional or traditional factors of the usual narrative.
He added that the workshop is entirely INTERPOL driven and National Bureau (NCB) Abuja is going to be of great assistance to the Law Enforcement Agents in the area of intelligence gathering, investigation, and collection of electronic evidence of transnational organized crime and corruption.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Patrick Daaor, stated that police powers over all kinds of crimes existentially require constant structured engagement and collaboration with other national law enforcement agencies, irrespective of their mandates.
He stressed that one of the cornerstones of effective internal security is trust between the police and the communities we serve, adding: “We must work tirelessly to foster transparency, accountability, and open communication. Community policing should not just be a concept but a lived reality, where citizens feel empowered to collaborate with law enforcement in maintaining peace and security.”
