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The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, noted on Tuesday that he had observed an absence of information-sharing between law enforcement agencies, a shortfall that he believes hampers their collective effectiveness.
Gaidam pointed out that, instead of working together, each agency often operates independently in these matters, missing opportunities for collaboration that could enhance overall effectiveness.
The Eastern Updates learned that Nigeria’s law enforcement structure includes multiple agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services, among others.
Addressing a workshop on inter-agency collaboration in intelligence sharing, the minister warned that the escalating security issues across the country demand that agencies abandon their independent stances. Instead, he urged them to prioritize sharing classified information to more effectively combat the nation’s security challenges.
Gaidam 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 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.”
He advocated for implementing a system in Nigeria similar to the West African Police Information System, emphasizing that such a framework could enhance coordinated intelligence efforts within the country.
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.
Speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Ebgbetokun called for more collaboration among the law enforcement agencies.
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Represented by DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, the IG said information sharing among law enforcement agencies would help to quickly identify threat patterns.
Egbetokun said, “The importance of information sharing among security agencies cannot be overemphasised 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. ”
He noted that law enforcement agencies must trust one another to have improved information sharing.
He said, “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. Second, we must establish strong partnerships and trust among our agencies, based on mutual respect and a common purpose.”