The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged state governments across Nigeria to emulate Enugu State’s investment in cutting-edge security infrastructure, describing the state’s Command and Control Centre as one of the most advanced surveillance facilities in the country.
The police chief gave the commendation during an inspection of the facility in Enugu on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, a partnership between the Enugu State Government and Godfrey Okoye University aimed at strengthening scientific investigation and criminal justice.
Expressing admiration for the sophistication of the technology deployed at the centre, the IGP said he was impressed by its surveillance capabilities, noting that the facility surpassed his expectations.
“I must confess that I am surprised we have this kind of facility here in this state because, you know, I worked in Lagos. I know we had something like this in Lagos, but the advancement of this present one amazed me,” he said.
According to him, the Command and Control Centre provides extensive real-time monitoring across the state, significantly boosting the capacity of security agencies to detect and respond to threats.
“This is a control room that has a lot of facilities with the ability to see almost everywhere in this state. There is no place that is left ungoverned from the control room. We can see the forest. We can zoom in—I think over 40 per cent—to be able to see far away. We can zoom in close to 30 kilometres away. That is great security.”
The Inspector-General said every state in the federation should study Enugu’s security model and replicate it to improve the protection of lives and property.
“I wish every state in Nigeria will come here and emulate what is happening. I have seen AI cameras. I have seen officers dedicated to certain areas of the state watching, seeing what is happening.
“I have also seen records of the successes recorded through this control room. One more time, I wish all the states in Nigeria will come around, see what is happening here and emulate it,” he stated.
The IGP also praised the efficiency of the Enugu State Distress Response Squad (DRS), a specialised security outfit equipped with more than 150 operational vehicles fitted with artificial intelligence-enabled cameras and integrated into the Command and Control Centre.
He revealed that he personally tested the response time of the squad during his visit and was impressed by its speed and operational readiness.
“I moved around. I saw the state’s DRS and then we put them to test. They did not know I was listening to them. We asked them to move to a certain part of the town and within two, three, four minutes, they were there. It shows their efficiency.
“Then I am sure you know I was the former Commander of the Rapid Response Force in Lagos too, and I do not want to mention here which is better—whether the DRS here or the Rapid Response Force. But the most important thing is that they have shown efficiency. They have shown capacity, and I thank the governor of this state for investing in the security of the people of the state,” he added.
Also present during the inspection was the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The Enugu State Command and Control Centre, established by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu during his official visit to the state on January 4, 2025, and serves as the hub for the state’s technology-driven security architecture.
