The Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to successfully implementing the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) initiative to ensure a safer and more secured region.
The minister, represented by Mr Ibrahim Buratai, the Director of Police Services in the ministry, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a briefing on the activities of WAPIS in Nigeria.
” In our unwavering pursuit for a safer and more secured West Africa, Nigeria has taken significant steps to ensure the successful implementation of WAPIS,” the minister said.
He said Nigeria’s partnership with INTERPOL was founded on shared values and a mutual understanding of the pressing need to address transnational crime and security challenges.
“We solidified this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INTERPOL, reaffirming our commitment to work together for the greater good of our region and indeed the globe.
“Apart from the MoU, we have also, adopted the legal framework related to the WAPIS, providing a strong foundation for its efficient operation amongst the national law enforcement agencies.
“At the heart of our progress is the Data Collection and Registration Centre (DACORE), which is now fully functional,” he said.
He said DACORE was currently serving as epicentre of data collection, consolidating vital information that would empower law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats.
” I am proud to report that key agencies have fully embraced the WAPIS initiative, while others are gradually picking up,” he said.
Gaidam said the agencies had been equipped with WAPIS terminals, allowing access to critical information and significantly enhancing collective efforts to combat crime and maintain security.
The minister said Nigeria’s dedication to capacity building had been unwavering, adding that more than six training sessions had been organised, with some, expertly conducted by local trainers.
According to him, the investment in training is to ensure that law enforcement personnel are not only proficient in using the WAPIS, but also well-prepared to harness its full potential in safeguarding the country.
“In our commitment to the success of WAPIS, we recognise that Nigeria’s unique characteristics demand special attention.
“With our vast landmass and multiple law enforcement agencies affiliated to different ministries, unlike in other countries where all Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are under one minister, it is only logical for us to heighten our resolve and cooperation.
“We believe that this will further optimise the effectiveness of WAPIS in Nigeria and contribute significantly to regional security.
” In response to concerns regarding data protection and privacy, I am pleased to announce that Nigeria has recently passed into law the National Data Protection Law 2023,” he said.
He said the legislative milestone was a demonstration of the country’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive information while actively participating in the WAPIS programme.
Gaidam said WAPIS Nigeria would continue to maintain close contact with the Data Protection Commission to ensure strict compliance and the highest standards of data security.
In his remarks, Dr Dienc Abdurahmane, the Permanent Secretary, West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) and representative of ECOWAS,said transnational organised crime and terrorism were major threats to human security.
He said these threats affect the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies in the ECOWAS region.
” This is the more reason why we are fully convinced that to fight transnational organised crime, member states must collaborate closely at national, regional and global levels,” he said.
He said one of the major challenges in fighting transnational organised crime in West Africa was the lack of appropriate infrastructure to collect, store, manage, analyse and share criminal data amongst the law enforcement agencies.
“To address some of these challenges, the ECOWAS Commission and INTERPOL with funding from the European Union launched WAPIS in Abidjan,Côte d’Ivoire.
“This was done during the General Assembly Meeting of the West Africa Police Chiefs’ Committee Meeting (WAPCCO) in September 2012.
“The objective of the WAPIS Programme is to build the capacity of the Law Enforcement Agencies in member states through the creation of electronic criminal databases.
“The idea is to ensure the sharing of such data in real time, at national, regional and global levels,” he said.
He said the WAPIS programme had gained momentum and had continued to receive the buy-in from the Nigerian government.