Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has handed over the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre built by his administration to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Speaking at the inauguration and hand-over of the centre to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, in Port Harcourt, Wike said the facility was aimed at further aiding the security agencies in crime fighting in the state.
The Governor, who disclosed the centre was fitted with the latest technology, said it would help in improving the crime fighting capability of police officers and make the state safer.
“Let me say clearly that this is our own contribution to making sure we have peace and fight insecurity, and that those who do business and reside here sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.
Wike assured that another intelligence and surveillance centre would be built and donated to the police in the next six months.
He also pledged to purchase and donate 10 more armoured vehicles to the centre to strengthen the performance of the personnel that would be deployed there.
The Governor commended the Inspector-General of Police for his unflinching support to the Command in its efforts at fighting crime in the state.
“We have had good relationship with the Police Command, unlike what used to happen before, when, within one year, we had more than eight commissioners of police.
“I thank you for not bringing politics to security issues, and that is why today, people can count Rivers as one of the safest states in the country,” Wike said.
In his speech, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, commended the Governor for providing the centre which, he said, would enhance the capability of the police to perform in line with international best practices.
“This project is a booster to my agenda of policing Nigeria in these contemporary times, which is in tandem with providing international best practices of using technology and ICT to police with ease,” he said.
According to him, the entire state capital, Port Harcourt, will be under surveillance and monitored within the control room of the centre.
Baba noted that the services to access at the centre would be combined with the police Cyber Crime Unit to render improved policing to Nigerians.
“I want to assure you that the police will make judicious use of this centre, in collaboration with our cybercrime unit, to tackle all forms of crime and criminality.
“We will do the needful to discharge our duties as expected,” he said.
Baba said that could be opened to other security agencies, on the basis of collaboration, synergy and cooperation, to achieve real time monitoring of crime incidences and apprehension of culprits.
“You can sit and police Rivers by getting a life incident report and you can also have the opportunity to send a team that is on standby at the station.
“I think this is the international practice that we will encourage, and I also appeal to the state government and other stakeholders to replicate such projects that will make human factor not an issue,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Special Projects, Mr Deinma Iyalla, explained that there was a main building where different gadgets were installed and connected to the control system.
Iyalla said that the main building also had 17 offices, all of which were well-equipped with facilities that would enable the personnel perform in-office duties.