The Federal Government has restated its commitment to finalizing the National Data Fusion Centre (NDFC) to facilitate information sharing among security agencies, aiming to address criminal activities in the country. Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, emphasized this during a meeting with Stanley Udeh, the Head of Interpol/National Central Bureau and an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in Abuja. Sani-Gwarzo revealed that the centre is currently undergoing 18 interconnected projects, and its completion will bolster security agencies’ capabilities in crime-solving, law enforcement, criminal database management, and interagency coordination.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, and the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, are dedicated to expediting the projects’ completion and addressing any identified shortcomings to ensure effective technological transformation within the ministry.
Sani-Gwarzo expressed optimism about the Nigeria Police Force’s potential to deliver quality services to the citizens and stressed the need for enhanced criminal profiling and documentation within the country. He highlighted the readiness of the ministry to support the Nigeria Police Force in building the necessary capacity for this purpose.
Furthermore, Sani-Gwarzo noted the current status of the data centre’s equipment procurement and emphasized the importance of concurrent physical infrastructure development and manpower training for sister agencies collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force.
AIG Stanley Udeh emphasized the progress of the National Criminal Data Centre and the National Crime and Incident Data Base Centre under the ministry’s supervision. He emphasized the urgency of establishing a functional centralized Criminal Data Centre to consolidate data from various sister agencies, advocating for a committee to facilitate interagency cooperation in the centre’s development.
Udeh also highlighted the role of Interpol in supporting global law enforcement operations and promoting international collaboration among law enforcement agencies, transcending diplomatic, military, political, religious, or commercial barriers.
