Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, alongside academics and other security experts, has called for a shift from heavy reliance on personnel to technology-driven innovation in tackling insecurity in the country.

They stated the position in Abuja on Monday, at an event to celebrate Peter Olumuji, who bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Security and Strategic Studies from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Mr Olumuji is the secretary of the FCT Administration Command and Control Centre, established to improve security in the FCT by collating and analysing security intelligence feeds from drones, closed-circuit television cameras and other technological devices.

The IGP, who chaired the event, said academic certification was crucial for modern security personnel and urged officers to get certified for the specialised roles they perform.

He commended Mr Olumuji, fondly called “Mr Sharp Sharp”, for always getting any job assigned to him done with speed.

“He is a paragon of honesty and professional persistence. Whenever there is a task, he stays on your neck to ensure it is completed.

“I learnt this from him: start a job, put a plan to it, and follow it to the end,” he said.

The vice-chancellor of Bingham University, Haruna Ayuba, who supervised Mr Olumuji’s thesis, said that the security and strategic studies programme was vital to winning the war against insecurity.

Mr Ayuba said, “Training experts at this level is now essential to nip security challenges in the bud ”.

He praised the celebrant’s dedication to genuine learning, saying, “While some students wanted to get a degree by any means, Olumuji was ready to learn.

“We didn’t just work together; we published research papers together.”

Similarly, Stephen Okore of the Nigerian Army University in Biu stressed the need for professionalism in security agencies to ensure competence in tackling insecurity.

Mr Okore described Mr Olumuji as a “gentleman and a good leader” who served as their class governor throughout their master’s and PhD programmes.

On his part, Adamu Gwary, director of the FCTA Security Services Department, said that Mr Olumuji’s academic achievement was the outcome of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s transformation of the FCT security architecture.

Mr Gwary noted that the department was being increasingly populated by holders of PhDs, which he said would inject logical thinking in tackling security challenges in the FCT.

“This means that security matters will be handled with innovative responsiveness.

“With the current security situation, this intellectual capacity will ensure that the security department provides the needed expertise in tackling insecurity,” he said.

Responding, Mr Olumuji said that his doctoral research underscored the need for a critical shift in Nigeria’s security strategy.

He emphasised the need for the transition from heavy reliance on physical personnel to the integration of advanced technology.

“By introducing more technology, we reduce the reliance on manpower.

“This is more effective in saving the lives of our gallant men and women in the military and law enforcement, who face risks in the field,” he said.

 (NAN)