The newly confirmed Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), while undergoing screening for the position before the Senate on Wednesday, called for a comprehensive national database and tracking of ransom payments to apprehend criminals.
PUNCH reports that Musa was confirmed as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence following a rigorous five-hour screening by lawmakers.
While speaking during the screening, the former Chief of Defence Staff argued that Nigeria must emulate successful developed nations by implementing a simple, fundamental security infrastructure.
“If we look at first-world countries, why are they succeeding? They’ve been able to put some basic things in place. Something as simple as a database for all citizens.
“I think that’s one area we need to build to assist the security forces. Even developmentally, we need to know the number of people in particular areas.
“I think it’s important that we have a comprehensive database; we need a unified one so that when you commit a crime, it’s easier to track and trace,” Musa stated.
He highlighted that the current lack of centralised information facilitates criminal mobility.
“That aspect that people can easily commit one crime in Sokoto and run to Maiduguri or Kano to stay and nobody knows them, makes it a lot easier for them,” he explained.
He proposed leveraging Information and Communication Technology to create a system where individuals become financially traceable upon committing an offence.
Citing international examples, he said, “There are countries that when you commit an offence, even your bank account is closed, your ATM cannot work.
“Now with ICT, we can do a lot. It is important at this stage to look at how we can link all that data together to have a unified one that will assist us.”
Musa also stressed the need to cut off the financial lifeline of kidnappers, stating, “We must stop ransom payment. Even when ransoms are being paid, we can track the money being paid; there’s a lot we can do using the banking system.
“The use of technology is very important. If we are able to have a database and every Nigerian has a number linked to everything electronic, we can monitor anything.”
Musa argued for harsher penalties to deter crime, especially terrorism and kidnapping, noting that in countries like Saudi Arabia and Middle East nations, “they’ve made it in such a way that nobody is set free once you are charged with aspects of terrorism.”
“I think we need to make it very punitive, the kidnapping issue, the way it’s been treated in courts, you’ll get somebody arrested, and the cases are prolonged, it doesn’t make it well,” he said.
PUNCH reports that the Senate has moved to tighten Nigeria’s anti-kidnapping laws by pushing for the death penalty for kidnappers — and anyone who finances, enables or provides information to them — as lawmakers debated amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
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