Minster of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam on Tuesday warned that non-sharing of intelligence and classified information among law enforcement agencies was hinder efforts to curb insecurity in the country.
Gaidam spoke at a 3-day workshop targeted at fostering inter-agency collaboration on information sharing among law enforcement agencies.
According to him the country could not afford to continue employing such a strategy with the present insecurity affecting many parts of the country
Gaidam called on the agencies, who were all present at the workshop, to abandon the independent approach and prioritise sharing of classified information and intelligence to effectively combat insecurity.
It would be recalled that there have been clashes among different security agencies who are supposed to be working in synergy, with the most recent being the public altercation between police men and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State
The Minister said, “On assumption of Office in August, 2023, I observed that there was no adequate collaboration among the law enforcement agencies as they all operate independently in the area of information sharing.
“There is an urgent need for all the law enforcement agencies to synergise on the future of our security architecture with all the required speed and political will.
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“With the rising security challenges and threats in the country, there is no better time than now to build on strengthening inter-agency collaboration through sharing of vital intelligence and classified information to curb the menace.”
While urging the operationalization of a system like that of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) in Nigeria, Gaidam said WAPIS is a technological tool that embodies our commitment to regional integration and cooperation, and enables police forces across West Africa to share intelligence and collaborate seamlessly.
“I strongly believe that if a similar system like WAPIS is deployed among the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, it will go a long way in curbing internal security challenges,” he added.
In his remarks, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, called for more collaboration among the law enforcement agencies.
Egbetokun, who was represented by Dasuki Galadanchi, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, said information sharing among law enforcement agencies would help to quickly identify threat patterns and the criminal syndicate.
According to him, “The importance of information sharing among security agencies cannot be overemphasized as it is a very crucial aspect of our collective efforts to combat crime and ensure public safety.
“Effective information sharing is the lifeblood of our efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes. It enables us to identify patterns, and anticipate potential threats.”
“To improve our information-sharing capabilities, we must recognize that information sharing is a two-way street.
“We must be willing to share our own information and also be open to receiving and acting on information from others.
“Secondly, we must establish strong partnerships and trust among our agencies, based on mutual respect and a common purpose.”
