Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, has observed a lack of synergy between law enforcement agencies, lamenting that most of the agencies don’t share classified information and intelligence among themselves.
Speaking during a 3-day workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Gaidam said such development could hinder the fight against insecurity.
He 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.
“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.”
The former Yobe State governor, therefore, called for a system similar to that of the West African Police Information System, WAPIS, in Nigeria.
According to him, WAPIS is a technological tool which 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.
Mr Gaidam directed the agencies to abandon the independent approach and prioritise the sharing of classified information and intelligence to effectively combat insecurity.
In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also called for more collaboration among sister agencies.
Represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Dasuki Galadanchi, said information sharing among law enforcement agencies would help to quickly identify threat patterns and the criminal syndicate.
