FG commits to implementing West African Police Information System
Nigeria has assured its readiness to implement the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), in the country in order to boost security.
Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam disclosed this during the visit of the ECOWAS, European Union, and INTERPOL delegation led by Head of Politics, Press and Information Section European Union (ECOWAS/Nigeria) Zissimos Vergos to the ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, Tuesday.
According to Gaidam, the WAPIS presents Nigeria with a unique opportunity to strengthen law enforcement efforts and foster collaboration among West African countries.
“This visit marks a significant milestone in our journey towards implementing the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) here in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By implementing the WAPIS, we will enhance our capacity to collect, store, analyze, and share crucial law enforcement data across borders. This system will enable us to tackle the menace of organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism more effectively.
“It is important to note that Nigeria is at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges of transnational crime and terrorism and the need for efficient and reliable information-sharing mechanisms cannot be overstated.
“WAPIS would empower our law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to identify and apprehend criminals who operate across national boundaries, ensuring that they face the full force of justice.
“Together, we can establish a formidable network that transcends borders, allowing us to combat crime collectively and protect the well-being of our citizens. WAPIS in Nigeria would not have been possible without the steadfast support and collaboration of our esteemed partners,” Gaidam said
Commenting, Head of Politics, Press and Information Section European Union (ECOWAS/Nigeria) Zissimos Vergos who led the delegation stated that the purpose of their visit was to review the specific objective of the programme.
He said it was also to examine the status regarding the development of WAPIS mechanism within Nigeria law enforcement landscape.
“There is the need for better coordination and dialogue among the security agencies and exchange of information within West Africa region.”
Also remarking, the Head of the Regional Security Division ECOWAS Commission, Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng said that WAPIS is an ECOWAS programme and stressed the need for political support towards the advancement of the process.
He made it clear that they had identified some issues in the implementation of the programme in Nigeria and the need for the technical mission to support the team in Nigeria.
