Nigeria steps up ICT expenditure for public safety

Nigeria’s Federal Government has jerked up its spending on the purchase of information communications technology (ICT) tools to combat the menace of the notorious gang, Boko Haram sect.

Among other acts, the gang has abducted about 300 school girls in their school in Chibok, resulting in international condemnation.

According to provisions in this year’s Appropriation Act, the government has approved N1,594,000,000 for the establishment of Public Key Infrastructure for Digital Signature Encryption (PKIDSE) for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) while approval has also been given for the acquisition of Enhanced Secured Field Communication System (ESFCS) at cost of N3,900,000,000.

The Act also made provision for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to procure security equipment valued at N837,307,610; Electronic Jamming Against Bomb System (EJABS) worth N363,604,547 and Computer Emergency Response (CER) Centre for N2,000,000,000.

There is also provision for Digital Forensic Laboratory with N800,000,000; ONSA Local Area Network (LAN) expansion-N100,000,000 and the National Information, Communication and Education Programme (NICEP) II Security Elements-Phase II-N1,242,896,000. Another N11,000,000,000. provision was made for what the budget termed Enhanced and Specialised Security Equipment, Gadgets and Services.

According to the law, the Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS) which is under the ONSA received budgetary approval to procure Strontium Sky Diligent Recon System at N350,000,000; Static and Mobile Jammers at N412,000,000; procure global system for mobile communication (GSM) Passive Off-the-Air Interception System-N359,000,500; Acquire Data Retention System N415,000,000; purchase more firearms and ammunitions for all service formations at N350,000,000.

source: http://www.biztechafrica.com/