Despite SIM-NIN linkage, insecurity worsens
was mostly used by Abba Kyari (a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) who is standing trial on cocainerelated charges alongside four members of his former police unit) and his team. Now, these bandits have devised a means to be one minute ahead of the game.
“Like I said, for emphasis purpose, they (bandits) don’t use their SIM cards. That aside, on using victims’ SIM cards, telecommunications companies themselves have failed to support the process of the government. That failure could be probably because they lack the capacity to document.
“If you notice it, you would have done the registration and you can have a situation where you will be asked to go and register again. This means that they (telecommunication companies) are not putting enough capacity towards that process or simply because they are being driven by the needs for benefits or profit.
“If they begin to implement that main requirement strictly, they will not sell. There is this thing of profit making, poor capacity and lack of patriotism on the part of the telecommunications companies,” he alleged.
Another security expert, Abdullahi Garba, called on the regulatory agencies to be serious and make things work for the citizenry.
He said, “In some other countries you cannot operate a telephone or anything towards that direction without proper documentation from day one. But here is a place where people cut corners. People are not doing what they are supposed to do.
“There is a limitation for the security agencies of pursuing criminals through the bush unless we are ready to incur collateral damage. It is a multifaceted thing. We blame our telecommunication companies and the law enforcement agencies.”
Countless infractions detected in NIN enrolment - NIMC
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, had, in a statement on Thursday by her Technical Adviser on Media and Communications, Ayodele Babalola, revealed that countless infractions and unwholesome practices were detected in the NIN enrolment and modification processes.
Coker-Odusote had stated that most of the reports of infraction were done by some of the commission’s front-end partners.
“On assumption of office, we observed countless infractions and unwholesome practices in the NIN enrolment and modification services. Most of the reports of infractions, upon investigation, were done by some of our frontend partners,” she had said. IT experts suggest solutions An information technology expert, Martin Nwoga, who spoke with one of our reporters, said the federal government should allow telecommunication companies to use the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) so that they could monitor and track criminals and supply same to private security companies to act upon if police and other law enforcement agencies fail to do so.
LIMS is a modern monitoring solution for fixed and data networks.
It is helpful for telecommunication and internet service providers to fulfill their legal obligation to intercept phone calls plus data, and to ensure privacy as much as possible.
Targeted monitoring of public communication services, such as telephone calls, mobile data and internet-based services such as e-mail, voice-over-IP, instant messaging, and so on becomes possible with LIMS.
The system acts as a link between the provider’s network and the law enforcement monitoring centres. The strict security measures prevent unauthorised access, secure all private user information, and relieve security checks through comprehensive logging.
Nwoga said, “If a semistate agency could be set up to legally monitor devices and communications of suspected criminals, this would go a long way in solving crime.”
Also speaking to Daily Trust Sunday, the Chief Technical Officer of Madjatek Pro Technology Company, AbdulMuizz Oyewole, an engineer, said the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria despite the SIM-NIN synchronisation, raised crucial questions about leveraging
Also speaking to Daily Trust Sunday, the Chief Technical Officer of Madjatek Pro Technology Company, AbdulMuizz Oyewole, an engineer, said the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria despite the SIM-NIN synchronisation, raised crucial questions about leveraging technology for public safety
technology for public safety.
He stressed the need for streamlined protocols for security agencies to access and analyse NIN-SIM data promptly.
He also said data privacy concerns must be addressed through secure frameworks and oversight mechanisms.
“Law enforcement agencies need training and resources to effectively analyse and interpret the vast amount of data generated by NINSIM synchronisation. Advanced forensic tools, data visualisation techniques and deployment of artificial intelligence can play a crucial role here,” Oyewole said.
Oyewola, who is a Microsoft certified expert, noted that interagency collaboration is highly necessary as lack of operational synergy limits effectiveness.
He described having a central intelligence unit integrating data from various agencies and fostering real-time information sharing as essential.
He said that beyond NIN-SIM synchronisation, the government could utilise information technology in several other ways like deploying large number of Advanced Surveillance Systems (CCTV) networks and drone surveillance with facial recognition and automated anomaly detection in high-risk areas and integrate these systems with real-time communication tools for rapid response.
“Another strategy is for us to develop multi-channel platforms, such as web app, mobile app, toll-free lines, SMS and USSD for citizen reporting, where citizens can anonymously report suspicious activity or emergencies across the country,” he said.
Oyewole said this would help create a network of eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies.
He also suggested that cyber safety awareness be inculcated in civic education curriculum in basic and secondary schools and general studies in tertiary institutions, with practical session demonstration.
Police, DSS silent on alleged non-utilisationofSIM-NINlinkage
Efforts by Daily Trust on Sunday to get comments from both the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service (SSS) proved abortive as calls and messages to their spokespersons were neither answered nor replied.