Nigerian Navy to mount security surveillance cameras in Lagos

To curb insecurity on Nigerian territorial waters, the Nigerian Navy is perfecting technical modalities to mount hi-tech surveillance equipment and cameras in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.

The cameras will enable the Navy monitor activities on the Nigerian territorial waters, and a little beyond the exclusive economic zones of the country.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has granted an express approval for provision of land to the Nigerian Navy to install the equipment in Ibeju-Lekki on the request of Ibok Ete Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff, who was at the State House, on Wednesday.

“I’d like to assure you that you have our immediate consent and approval for the land in Ibeju-Lekki, which is just 150 metres by 1 kilometre for the installation of the Falcon Eye Equipment that you have proposed in that place.

“The additional value for us is that we will be able to see what is happening on our waters and in the creeks and the Nigerian Navy has actually agreed to give us access to the equipment so that it can be linked up to our command and control centre.

“This is very important to us coming on the heels of the recent kidnapping that took place in Lagos last week. The six days for which the students were away with their abductors were days of gory tales and anxiety for us and to actually observe that the pupils were actually in the creeks for those days, there will be no other strategy to put a halt to this kind of menace if we do not address the issues that relate to our territorial waters,” Ambode told the visiting naval chief.

He believed that with 20 percent of the 735 square kilometres of Lagos covered by water, there was the need for the state government to partner the Nigerian Navy to ensure the security of the people, especially as it related to water.

The naval chief, who was accompanied by ranking officers of the Navy, said the Falcon Eye project, an initiative of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA), was a surveillance gadget to monitor activities on the Nigerian waters.

He also appreciated the support the Navy had enjoyed from the state government so far.