How ICT can address insecurity, transform agriculture – Expert
By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
An Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) expert, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, says ICT is all encompassing to address insecurity, agriculture and other sectoral challenges.
Yilwatda told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that geospatial data has the potential to provide locational information and solutions to addressing such challenges.
According to him, conversations of criminals can be tracked, using advanced telecommunication systems.
“We have digital mapping and we have bandits moving in their numbers.
“To some an extent, we have improved the quality of our maps and we should improve the resolutions of our imagineries to detect movement of vehicles and criminal activities.
“The telecommunication is not on exclusive list, meaning that state governments can make their independent policies on telecommunication.
“We can make policies to track telephone records, filter the data and track communication and discussions,’’ he said.
According to him, we can work with internet exchange point to filter internet discussions that compromise the security systems.
He added that such technology could reduce kidnapping if implemented in state and local governments.
The expert also suggested the use of night vision goggles which has the capacity to see over three kilometers at night, stressing the need for training of officers to acquire knowledge on the use of advanced security gadgets.
According to him, acquiring a minimum digital skill can also be a requirement for recruiting officers.
“The state governments can get their satellite mapping of areas that have threats, schools, communities, and track the paths of kidnappers even at night.
“We can put technology as a requirement for recruiting people in the police force or security agencies, minimum digital skill,” expert said
According to him, as long as the officers can make calls, send text messages, use WhatsApp, it is technology and they are tech savvy already.
He said “those skills are sufficient enough for them to apply for security management as end users.
“Fighting insecurity is not the sole responsibility of security agencies, Public Private Partnership can be adopted.
“We can win this war with Public Private Partnership, the Nigeria security architecture can bring in experts to deploy technology, because the strategy is with them (security officers),but the technology is for private sector.
“This war requires partnership, it is beyond the physical carrying of arms, deploying to the bush and moving around the bush.
“We should always plan ahead with technology to mitigate the activities of criminals, equip the police and provide inland security.’’
In agriculture, he said ICT could be adopted to improve the agricultural value chain and ensure food insecurity.
According to him, ICT can be applied from farm inputs, to producers, to the logistics of distributing to wholesalers, retailers and finally to the consumers.
“Consumers can as well access quick and safer places to buy cheap farm products. The chain is traceable with technology.
“Satellite mapping can be applied in agriculture, to check for disease control, pest control, to know crops to plant in the right season, and that will boost production.
“These farmers will need a platform that requires training. This means that governments must think of training farmers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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