ABUJA – Some experts in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Monday in Abuja advocated for the proper use of ICT to assist in tackling terrorism in the country.
Some of the ICT experts who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said they could assist in the search if the government had involved them.
Mr Bayo Banjo, President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), said other countries usually involved their technologists in addressing cases of terrorism, cyber-crime and other related crimes.
He said the Nigerian case would have not been different if the government had sought for their assistance.
Banjo said such a policy would have brought a lot of difference to the war against terrorism in the country.
“Assuming we were carried along with the efforts made by the military men and intelligence officers in the search of abductors of Chibok girls, Boko Haram and other criminals, they would have been arrested.
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“This would have also reduced cost on government for hiring international bodies to tackle the issues.
“It is not only Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) that can help the nation; there are other technologies that can be used,” Banjo said.
Mrs Yemisi Adejare, a technologist based in Abuja, in her reaction, commended the government for its efforts so far.
She, however, said that no government can curb its security challenges alone.
She advised the government to partner individuals, especially experts, who can assist in the fight against insurgency.
Mr Chinedu Orizu, a member of Nigeria Association of Telecommunications Technologists, also said government should not be too dependent on foreign experts to solve local problems.
He said there are good hands in Nigeria who had not been contacted on the security issue.
Ms Sonia Jorge, the Executive Director of Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), also told NAN that Nigeria had developed some impressive ICT initiatives in recent years.
But she said that some of these initiatives have not been utilised to address insecurity in the country.
She said that the mobile telephone growth and increase in international bandwidth due to the landing of new submarine cables in Nigeria have created opportunities to track the terrorists. (NAN)
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