The Inspector General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has commended the Governor Peter Mbah Administration for establishing a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre that provides effective surveillance across Enugu State. During a tour of the facility, Disu expressed surprise at the sophistication of the security infrastructure and expressed hope that other states would study and replicate it to boost security nationwide.
Disu spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, a partnership between the Mbah Administration and Godfrey Okoye University aimed at promoting scientific, evidence-based justice and combating criminality.
Advanced Surveillance Capabilities
“I must confess that I am surprised we have this kind of facility here in this state because you know I worked for Lagos. I know we had something like this in Lagos, but the advancement of this present one amazed me,” Disu said. “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 kilometers away. That is great security.”
The IGP noted the presence of AI cameras and dedicated officers monitoring various areas of the state. He reviewed records of successes achieved through the control room and reiterated his wish for all Nigerian states to visit and emulate the system.
Distress Response Squad Efficiency
Disu also commended the state’s Distress Response Squad (DRS), a special police unit equipped with over 150 security vehicles fitted with AI-enabled cameras and linked to the Command and Control Centre. He tested the squad’s response time by requesting them to move to a specific location. “We put them to test. 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,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as former commander of the Rapid Response Force in Lagos, Disu refrained from comparing the two units but emphasized the DRS’s demonstrated efficiency and capacity. He thanked the governor for investing in the security of the state’s residents.
Official Inauguration
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also participated in the tour. The Enugu State Command and Control Centre was formally inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu during his official visit to the state on 4 January 2025.
