The Nigeria Police Force is preparing to expand the use of artificial intelligence and advanced technology in criminal investigations and intelligence gathering as part of a broader strategy to modernise policing and improve crime prevention across the country.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Adegoke Fayoade outlined the plans during a working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, where he also assured residents that efforts were continuing to secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers taken from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Fayoade said the Force was making significant investments in technology infrastructure, including the development of a centralised data centre designed to strengthen intelligence gathering, criminal investigations and information sharing among security agencies.
According to the DIG, artificial intelligence is expected to become an increasingly important component of police operations, with officers set to undergo specialised training in the use of AI tools for investigations, data analysis and intelligence-led policing.
He said the technology would help law enforcement agencies identify crime patterns, predict potential security threats and deploy resources more effectively.
“We will be able to predict incidents and know where to deploy our resources. Technology will help us address crimes before they occur, and we are moving rapidly in that direction,” Fayoade said.
The senior police officer noted that intelligence gathering and technological capabilities had already contributed to several operational successes recorded by police formations across the country.
He added that the Force was pursuing wider reforms aimed at improving policing effectiveness, including the recruitment of an additional 40,000 personnel and measures to improve officers’ welfare.
Fayoade said the planned technology upgrades would support a more data-driven approach to policing, enabling security agencies to maintain comprehensive records of criminal activity and improve coordination in tackling emerging threats.
The remarks came as security agencies intensified efforts to rescue more than 40 pupils and teachers abducted during attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Fayoade assured Nigerians that all relevant agencies were working together to secure the victims’ release and declined to comment on reports of ransom demands, insisting that the priority remained their safe recovery.
- Read also: AI and the Future of Policing in Nigeria
The DIG also called for greater public awareness of police achievements, arguing that improved communication would strengthen public confidence and highlight the work being carried out by officers nationwide.
He reiterated the Force’s commitment to professionalism, responsible policing and respect for human rights while emphasising the growing role that technology and artificial intelligence are expected to play in the future of law enforcement in Nigeria.
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Bio: Joseph Michael is an MBA graduate in Marketing from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and a passionate tech enthusiast. As a professional writer and author at AIbase.ng, he simplifies complex AI concepts, explores digital innovation, and creates practical guides for Nigerian learners and businesses. With a background in marketing and brand communication, Joseph brings clarity, insight, and real-world relevance to every article he writes.
1 Comment
Right move in the right direction, fingers cross on how they implement this.