The Federal Government through the Ministry of Police Affairs has formally received the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) platform and infrastructure from the European Union/INTERPOL towards enhancing security in the nation and West Africa region, according to a statement by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations Unit, Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The official handing over ceremony of WAPIS Programme was done by the Interpol Executive Director Police Services, and received by the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, at the ECOWAS Secretariat Asokoro, Abuja.
The Minister stated that today’s ceremony symbolizes Nigeria’s strong commitment and active role in regional security cooperation through the WAPIS Programme towards sustaining the WAPIS initiative, ensuring enhanced security for Nigeria and the West African Region.
Gaidam recalled that since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between INTERPOL and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 16th of April 2019, Nigeria has greatly benefited from the implementation of the WAPIS Programme.
This collaboration has notably resulted in the renovation and operationalization of the Data Collection and Registration Centre (DACORE), inaugurated on the 26th of May 2021, strategically situated at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The Minister stressed.
“At the inception stage, we received an initial donation workstation, which significantly improved the technological capabilities. Recognizing the importance of interagency collaboration, we brought onboard key national law enforcement agencies, namely the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Correctional Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigeria Police Force as the coordinating agency,” he said.
He added that, “as the Chairman of the WAPIS National Committee (WANACO), it has been my responsibility and privilege to oversee the effective implementation of this Programme and we have worked relentlessly to foster improved coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, ensuring effective data-driven law enforcement operations across Nigeria.”
Gaidam further revealed that the Ministry of Police Affairs, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, has proactively submitted a comprehensive budget proposal to President Bola Tinubu, and the proposal is currently receiving commendable attention from the Office of the President.
The Minister reinforced the commitment to ensure seamless and effective operation by personally overseeing the provision of stable and reliable internet connectivity at the DACORE, facilitating continuous and effective communication with remote locations.
He added that the Ministry recently organized a three-day WAPIS Workshop themed “Interagency Collaboration on Information Sharing among Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”
This vital workshop brought together key stakeholders from various law enforcement agencies, resulting in strategic deliberations that were encapsulated in a communiqué presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
In his remarks, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot pointed out that the Union played a pivotal role in modernizing the effectiveness of the security forces in the region adding that through the expenditure of 380 million Euros they were able to create centralized and secured system for police information at national and regional levels.
Earlier, the INTERPOL Executive Director, Police Services, Cyril Gout, appreciated the commitment of the ECOWAS and European Union for their commitment and resilience on the WAPIS project implementation.
He said that integration of several police Information systems represent a major stride that enable them to focus on transnational crimes, human trafficking and information sharing adding that there is the need for more investment on training and capacity building to maintain the effectiveness of the project.
