ASSESSING THE ROLE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES IN ADDRESSING INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria’s persistent insecurity crisis, which includes terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and armed insurgency, has exposed a lingering failure by the government to achieve its core obligation of protecting its citizens. Within the social contract tradition, state legitimacy depends on its capacity to protect (Hobbes, 1651; Locke, 1689), a capacity that the Nigerian government has consistently struggled to do. Since modern surveillance technologies have shown measurable reductions in crime in other contexts, academic attention to how these tools have been governed and deployed in Nigeria remains limited. This study assesses the role of surveillance technologies, especially closed-circuit television (CCTV), biometric systems, facial recognition platforms, and predictive policing tools, in addressing Nigeria’s insecurity challenges. The study also identifies the institutional, legal, and technical obstacles that limit their effective use. The study relies on qualitative document analysis and thematic coding (Braun & Clarke, 2006) of peer-reviewed literature, official policy documents, and international security reports from 2005 to 2023. It is anchored in structural functionalist theory (Parsons, 1951). Findings from the study show that while these technologies have worked in similar settings, their use in Nigeria has been fragmented, underfunded, and poorly governed. The primary obstacle is weak institutional capacity rather than a shortage of technology. The study therefore recommends a phased, governance-centred national surveillance framework supported by the right legislation, sustained budget commitment and mandatory capacity building across security agencies.