Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for the installation of adequate and functional Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Abuja as part of security measures to fight crime in the city.

A cross section of the public and stakeholders who spoke to journalists in Abuja and environs, urged the authorities in FCT to take up the matter seriously for positive results in containing criminal activities.

They noted that it was high time Abuja as the federal capital of Nigeria aligned with other major cities in the world in taking standard security measures like having functional CCTV in strategic areas.

Olumon Sharafadeen, the national vice chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, said CCTV cameras are being used globally to fight crimes and criminalities.

He said CCTV cameras give records of what happened, when it happened, who are involved and most importantly, help security agencies to do investigations properly.

According to him, CCTV cameras reduce the level of crime in every society because when the criminals know that they are being recorded, many of them automatically stay away.

Mr Sharafadeen called on the FCTA to revitalise the existing CCTV cameras, improve on them and extend the coverage across the city.

He said CCTV cameras are what any government committed to the security of lives and property would not hesitate to invest in to curb crimes and criminalities.

Victor Olumide, a staff of a CCTV camera installation firm in FCT, who spoke on the vital role of the cameras in fighting crime, called on the FCTA to also provide the needed infrastructure for the CCTV cameras to function effectively.

He said that the major infrastructure needed for the CCTV camera to function effectively was power.

“When there is no power there is no way the CCTV cameras can work effectively. It is with either electricity or the solar alternative, but it must be powered.

“Human character is another reason why CCTV cameras are not working in Abuja. It is so sad that some of our leaders travel abroad, see what happens in other climes but fail to replicate the same in the country.

“I think lack of political will on the part of successive administration of the FCT is responsible for the failure of CCTV cameras to work in Abuja.

“We hope things will change for the better under this administration,” Mr Olumide said.

According to him, security is number one anywhere because it is when you are secured that you can think of any other thing.

Sam Onyema, an FCT resident and security expert, called on relevant authorities to also invest in data collation where facial and biometric recognition of individuals could be accessed easily.

He observed the investment must not be in CCTV cameras alone but also in data centres for maximum results because when the CCTV camera identifies visually without data to identify the person, work done would be zero.

“There must be a data centre where we can have facial and biometric recognition of individuals so that when the CCTV camera has done its own, the investigative work can identify the person recorded by the camera.

“If this is not in place, the essence of the CCTV camera is defeated, so we are calling on the FCT minister to look into it and provide adequate CCTV camera coverage in Abuja.”

Mr Onyema commended the minister for his excellent performance in road construction across the FCT, but noted that without security, the essence of the road projects would be defeated.

Also speaking, Adeniyi Kassim, owner of a security and smart home solution company, said that the sales of CCTV has increased over the years following the spate of insecurity across the country.

According to Mr Kassim,  CCTV which was mostly bought for residential surveillance has taken a new turn as public and private sectors now see the need to utilise digital security surveillance.

“CCTV, if installed in major areas of the FCT will help to monitor and protect lives and properties.

“Manning the city by Nigeria’s security services has proved expensive and cumbersome.

“However, the deployment of efficient and effective surveillance can help achieve this with a reliable internet and properly managed control room,” he said.

He said that CCTV was not all about installation but it is important to deploy the right type of CCTV for proper coverage.

The technology expert was of the opinion that, if the Federal Government invested in the use of smart technologies, security across the country will be strengthened.

A private security guard who pleaded anonymity  was of the opinion that the installation of CCTV at the nooks and crannies of the territory will make it a safer place for all.

He said that many estates had contributed money to install CCTV at their entry and exit points because they know the importance.

He further said that the device had helped security outfits to unravel crimes committed within their vicinity.

“We have watched our cameras to investigate theft in the estate severally and it has helped us to arrest thieves.

“Without those cameras we wouldn’t have understood how those crimes took place.

“If it has helped communities then imagine how it can help the FCT and country at large if the government invests in installation,” he said.

 (NAN)