There appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for residents of Southeastern states as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the deployment of advanced surveillance technology to the region.
The development will enable the security agencies to address insecurity, crimes which has become rampant in the region over the years.
Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodima made this disclosure shortly after holding a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Uzodima said Buhari’s approval would allow the use of advanced surveillance equipment to fight insecurity without collateral damage.
The New Diplomat reports that the South-East, particularly Imo state has become notorious for attacks on public and private properties.
Unknown armed men have invaded several offices belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and as well as Police Stations, freeing dozens of inmates.
To curb the menace, Uzodima assured that with the deployment of technology to track the activities of criminals, the insecurity challenge of the state would be overcome with effortless ease.
In his words, “I also appealed to him for further support, to help us with some technological deployments we have planned to be able to use as an advanced kind of security control in the South-East. And he has also given his approval to that.
“And in a moment from now, we will be getting some surveillance equipment and some modern technologies that will help us manage security so that we can fight crime with little or no collateral damage to the environment,” the governor explained.
Citing reduced crime rate and execution of infrastructural projects as part of his achievements upon an assumption of office, Uzodimma said his government was looking forward to a better year.
He expressed optimism that the year 2023 will be better than 2022, adding that the level of development witnessed from 2020 to 2022 will be improved upon.
“My people have seen a lot of thing. If you go to the South-East, in Imo State for instance, we got approval of Mr. President, that has now enabled the government of Imo State partnering the Nigerian Navy to dredge Oguta River to Orashi River to the sea, that is opening up that maritime route.
“Then with a Naval Base there, we can now manage pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and all forms of criminality that besieged that area for a very long time. And crime has gone down tremendously, since the Naval Base was established.
“So, I think we have hope for a better Nigeria. The road that we just completed that was inaugurated by Mr president, the Owerri-Orlu dualised expressway, Mr President has approved that the Imo State Government be refunded,” he said.
