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We’ve Delivered Fully Functional Data Collection, Registration Centre – Sen Gaidam
The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has confirmed that the Data Collection and Registration Centre (DACORE), which is the heart of the progress of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), is now fully functional.
The Minister made the remarks, according to a statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director, Press, Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), during the opening ceremony of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) Programme Briefing held at the Cyber Crime Center, Central Business District, Abuja.
Gaidam, whose speech was presented by the Director, Police Service Department, pointed out that DACORE serves as the epicenter of our data collection efforts, consolidating vital information that would empower law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats.
The Minister said that key agencies have fully embraced the WAPIS initiative, while others are gradually picking up. They are now equipped with WAPIS terminals, allowing them to access critical information and significantly enhance the collective efforts to combat crime and maintain security.
“Nigeria’s dedication to capacity building has been unwavering. We have organized more than six training sessions, some of which were expertly conducted by our national trainers. This investment in training ensures that our law enforcement personnel are not only proficient in using the WAPIS system but are also well-prepared to harness its full potential in safeguarding our nation,” he said.
He further announced that Nigeria has recently passed into law the National Data Protection Law 2023.
“This legislative milestone demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding sensitive information while actively participating in the WAPIS program,” Gaidam stressed.
In his response, the Head of Politics, Press and Information Section, European Union (ECOWAS/Nigeria), Zissimos Vergos congratulated INTERPOL and Law Enforcement agencies of the region for successfully managing the African Cup of Nations that received 3 million visitors and WAPIS was actively involved in proper security at the event. He appreciated the Efforts of the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs and the Permanent Secretary for uplifting the operation of WAPIS in Nigeria.
He said data analytics and artificial intelligence are a new frontier of policy planning and regulation adding that major threats to stability are transnational crime, cyber security, misinformation on social media, hacking, drones, and artificial intelligence, and the need for WAPIS officers to advance on policy planning and regulations.
Vergos urged civil society representatives to champion the course of the programme, encouraging it to be accountable to the benefit of society.
Earlier, the representative of the ECOWAS, Head of Regional Security Division Directorate Of Peacekeeping and Registration Security, Dr. Dieng Abdourahmane, pointed out that the major challenge in fighting transnational organized crime in West Africa, is the lack of appropriate infrastructure to collect, store, and manage, analyze and share criminal data amongst the law enforcement agencies at the national and regional levels.
He said, “Today, in Nigeria, the WAPIS programme has gained momentum and continues to receive the buy-in from the Federal Government. The data collection and registration centre has been established and operationalized, and law enforcement agencies have been trained and equipped with WAPIS workstations. We are hoping that a few more centres will be established across the country in the coming months.”
The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has constituted the LSSTF Monitoring Team with clear guidelines detailing their baseline expectations, roles, responsibilities, and performance. This is to ensure that all security agencies based in Lagos that benefit from the LSSTF largesse are responsible and responsive to the public goodwill which is reposed on them.
The constitution of the LSSTF Monitoring Team is in fulfillment of the pledge of the Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan at the recent Strategic Media Parley with Senior Editors and Media Executives. He had assured the journalists that the era of abuse and misuse of public resources is over.
It will be recalled that Ogunsan outlined his leadership focus at the media Parley which held at the Agency’s Headquarters on 5th December 2025. ‘Public confidence in the Fund is essential. Under my leadership, transparency will be the standard not the exception. We will, maintain strict oversight on contractor performance, monitor all funded projects closely, publish updates on the utilization of donations, strengthen internal governance and reporting, and deepen stakeholder communication and feedback mechanisms.’
With the LSSTF Monitoring Team duly constituted, Ogunsan gave them the marching orders to include: ‘Monitoring and tracking of vehicles and other security assets belonging to RRS; Conducting routine field inspections to determine the state of Fund’s assets; Maintaining accurate records of assets deployed by the Fund to the RRS and providing operational reports; Accessing the application of assets provided to the security agencies as a prerequisite for further allocation; Monitoring repairs and refurbishments embarked upon by the Fund; and Any other duty as may be assigned from time to time.’
The inauguration and public presentation of a monitoring vehicle to facilitate the efforts of the LSSTF Monitoring Team will be held very soon.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Sector Command, has confirmed a tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 17th December 2025, along the Temu–Sabo route, by the Bypass Pobona area of Epe, Lagos State.
The incident, according to a statement by the Public Education Officer, SRC Oluwadamilola Jayeola, made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), occurred at about 0205hrs and was reported at 0210hrs. Operatives of the FRSC Epe Unit Command responded promptly and arrived at the scene within minutes.
Speaking on the incident, the Sector Public Education Officer, Superintendent Route Commander (SRC) Oluwadamilola Jayeola, stated that preliminary findings revealed that the explosion involved a commercial MACK tanker and five other vehicles, bringing the total number of vehicles affected to six (6).
She explained that the crash was attributed to brake failure, which resulted in loss of control and a subsequent lone crash. Although two adult persons were involved in the incident, no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
Traffic control was immediately established by FRSC operatives to prevent secondary incidents. The Corps worked in synergy with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and the Lagos State Fire Service, which successfully contained and extinguished the fire.
A private tow truck was also contacted and placed on standby to facilitate the prompt recovery of the affected vehicles and clear the obstruction along the route.
The Sector Commander, FRSC Lagos Sector Command, Corps Commander Kehinde Ganiyu Hamzat, reiterated his advisory to motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to ensure regular and thorough vehicle maintenance, with special emphasis on braking systems, before embarking on any journey.
The Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps remains steadfast in its commitment to prompt emergency response, effective traffic management, and the safety of all road users.
Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has formally submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, over alleged corruption and financial impropriety.
The petition, dated December 16, 2025, was submitted through Dangote’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, and received at the office of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN.
In the petition, Dangote called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the NMDPRA boss, alleging that Farouk has been living far above his legitimate means as a public servant.
Dangote specifically accused Ahmed Farouk of allegedly spending over seven million United States dollars on the education of his four children in Switzerland, paid upfront for a six-year period, without any lawful explanation for the source of the funds.
According to the petition, the four children and their respective schools in Switzerland were clearly identified, along with the amounts paid on their behalf, to enable the ICPC verify the allegations.
The industrialist further alleged that Farouk Ahmed had been using his position at the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests, actions which he claimed had recently triggered public protests and widespread criticism of the agency.
Dangote maintained that Ahmed Farouk has spent his adult life working in Nigeria’s public sector, adding that his cumulative earnings over the years could not reasonably account for the alleged seven million dollars reportedly spent on the overseas education of his children.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement constitute gross acts of corruption, for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” the petition stated.
It further noted that under the same section of the ICPC Act, any person found guilty of such offences is liable to imprisonment for a term of five years without an option of fine.
Dangote urged the commission to act decisively, stressing that the ICPC, alongside other anti-graft agencies, is strategically positioned to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences.
“In view of the foregoing, we call on the Commission under your leadership to investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting,” the petition added.
The Dangote Group Chairman also expressed confidence that the matter, being in the public domain, would not be ignored, urging the ICPC to act in the interest of justice and to protect the image of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Dangote further pledged his readiness to provide additional evidence to substantiate his allegations of corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and impunity against the NMDPRA Managing Director.
