Ict/Telecom
Police Plan New Crime-Fighting Technology
Criminals in Lagos and
Ogun States may not have breather any longer to operate as the Zone 2 Police Command says it will soon launch a new technology platform to boost its crime fighting.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone, Mr Bala Hasan, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos in an interview with newsmen.
Hassan, who reviewed how the police reduced crime in the zone during the Yuletide, said the technology would enhance the measures already put in place to rid the states of criminality.
He said that the sustained efforts at curbing crime paid off as the zone witnessed the lowest crime rate in the last five years during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The AIG said the command in line with the pursuits of the police top hierarchy would strive to motivate its officers and men and apply technology in fighting the menace this year.
“We are going to motivate our officers and men by taking care of their welfare and try to create more platforms which the people could use to alert the police about crime.
“ We want to motivate the men to serve the public better and we are creating more platforms in this direction.
“I know the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has launched “Flash Alert’’ that will assist members of the public to report crime promptly, but we are going beyond that now.
“We are going to have a “Flash Alert’’ that even if you do not know or have any police distress telephone number, once you are attacked and you press any part of your phone, it will send signal to the control room.
“We are also looking at other areas whereby if your phone is not close to you and you are attacked, you can shout and your phone will send a distress signal to the control room.
“There and then officers will come and assist you. This will leave the criminals with no time to carry out their despicable activities.
“Once you do that, you have helped us to reduce the time we use to attend to distress calls and once criminals know they no longer have enough time to operate, criminality reduces,’’ Hassan said.
On the use of technology, the AIG said that the police would deploy the technology to make it difficult for criminals to attack innocent members of the public.
He said:“We request the banks and other commercial institutions to ensure that effective Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are installed in their premises.
“If anybody commits crime and runs away, we will have the video and the record on how to trace the person.
“So, all banks, financial houses, Shoprite and other shopping malls should ensure that cameras are installed in their work places.
“If there is a robbery, we will have a record of it in our system and that is what I want to enjoin the residents of Lagos State to do for us.
“They will also ensure that they have records of movements within and outside their institutions to help us see who comes in and goes out’’.
Hassan recalled that he had done something like flash alert while he was the Commissioner of Police in Edo.
“I have some youths who are experienced in information technology and I have tasked them to develop sophisticated software, and this one maybe ahead of what we have in Lagos State currently.
“In this innovation, you do not have to dial any number, you just press any part of your phone or you shout at the top of your voice and it sends a distress signal to the police.
“This will send signal to our control rooms and you will have quick response from our men which is our major plan for 2016.
On the Yuletide, he said that there was safety on the roads while people travelled for the Christmas and New Year because the zone deployed 15 patrol vehicles each in Lagos and Ogun.
“The measure under ‘Operation Safer Highways’ of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, ensured that the people were protected and travelled safe.
“Under the Safer Highways patrol, we provide, even though it may be small, for the policemen things that will make them not to stop vehicles and ask for money.
“Such include provisions like water and food so that they will not be hungry.
“The 186 patrol vehicles recently donated by the Lagos State Government were also deployed in strategic places.
“The presence of the police everywhere sent fear into the criminals as they knew that they will be caught on the least attempt to commit crime.
“I urge members of the public to have the numbers of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders, the commissioner of police and the control room.
“I want them to know that police officers will be willing to assist them in distress,’’ Hassan said.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter
