The Federal Government is advancing efforts to modernise policing and strengthen digital infrastructure across Nigeria following a high-level meeting between the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mohammed Sheidu.
The meeting, held in Abuja, focused on leveraging technology and connectivity to improve law enforcement operations, enhance service delivery, and accelerate the digital transformation of the Nigeria Police Force.
Dr. Tijani disclosed that discussions built on the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund. The partnership seeks to explore opportunities for police stations nationwide to serve as Points of Presence on the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE broadband infrastructure initiative.
According to the minister, integrating police facilities into the Project BRIDGE network could significantly expand broadband penetration across the country while simultaneously providing law enforcement agencies with improved digital connectivity to support modern policing operations.
The initiative is expected to strengthen communication systems, improve data management, facilitate digital investigations, and enhance coordination among police formations nationwide.
A major highlight of the engagement was a live demonstration of an innovative artificial intelligence-powered solution developed by Awarri, a Nigerian technology company. The platform features voice-enabled local language statement capture and case management capabilities designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of criminal investigations.
The AI-driven system enables law enforcement officers to record statements in multiple local languages while automatically converting them into structured digital records. The technology is expected to reduce documentation errors, accelerate case processing, improve record-keeping, and enhance access to critical investigative information.
Speaking after the demonstration, Dr. Tijani expressed optimism about the transformative potential of the technology, noting that deployment is expected to commence in Abuja and Lagos within the coming weeks before being expanded to other parts of the country.
The minister described the initiative as a practical example of how emerging technologies can be deployed to address longstanding operational challenges within public institutions.
He emphasized that while the Federal Government continues to invest heavily in building the digital infrastructure needed to power Nigeria’s future economy, equal attention must be given to ensuring that public institutions possess the tools, skills, and systems required to utilize such infrastructure effectively.
According to him, digital transformation is not solely about expanding connectivity but also about enabling institutions to harness technology to deliver more efficient, transparent, and citizen-focused services.
The collaboration between the Ministry, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital economy agenda, which seeks to leverage technology to improve governance, enhance public service delivery, and stimulate socio-economic development.
Industry observers believe that the integration of broadband infrastructure and artificial intelligence into police operations could mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernise law enforcement. Experts note that digital tools have the potential to improve crime reporting, evidence management, intelligence gathering, case tracking, and inter-agency collaboration.
The planned rollout of AI-powered statement capture technology in Abuja and Lagos is expected to serve as a pilot phase, providing insights into how advanced digital solutions can be scaled nationwide to support more efficient policing and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
As Nigeria continues its journey toward becoming a digitally enabled economy, stakeholders say partnerships that bring together government agencies, technology innovators, and security institutions will be critical to unlocking the full benefits of digital transformation for citizens and businesses alike.
