THE Nigeria Police Force may soon be equipped to respond effectively to emergencies with its planned deployment of the Nigerian National Public Security Communication System (NPSCS) network to many of is sub-stations in some major cities in Nigeria.The NPSCS network, when fully deployed, will enhance public security as it is expected to help in the prevention of crimes by providing an alert mechanism with which to inform police of crime being committed or about to be committed in a community.Crimes have had negative impact on the Nigeria's economy in the last few years, as there have been pockets of security breaches in some major cities within the country.The Guardian learnt that with this security appratus to be handed over to the police soon, the country will be able to monitor the activities of terrorist organizations, enhance rapid response to emergency situations for quick intervention.Already, the Police high command has commenced training programmes for the personnel that will use the equipment for the desired purpose.A Chinese firm, ZTE, which introduced the network in Nigeria, is coordinating the training.Cameras have already been positioned in strategic locations across Lagos, Abuja and other cities to monitor events on a daily basis. According to project handlers, 'The system will enable proactive and rapid response to emergency situations as well as management of information within the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). Successful implementation of this project will significantly improve public safety levels, guaranteeing social stability and economic development in Nigeria.In March 2008, during a state visit of the late President, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to the People's Republic of China, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ZTE Corporation of China and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the deployment in Nigeria of a comprehensive, reliable, modern and robust National Public Security Communication Systems (NPSCS) code-named Global Open Trunking Architecture (GoTA) for national security operations.'The NPSCS project implementation commenced in 2011 in 36 states and the FCT. The network has five main components/subsystems, which are: Global Open Trunking Architecture (GoTA) subsystem, which includes the deployment of base transmission stations (BTS) nation-wide. The video surveillance subsystem, which is the most noticeable component of the project with the installation of cameras.The application of solar solutions in this subsystem was informed by the need to ensure sustained operations of the cameras. There are two types of cameras utilised for the network - the fixed and dome cameras. Video images captured by the cameras can be stored for one month, and then transferred to the system database for archiving. The Coalition Emergency Response (CERS) Subsystem supports the Police call center for emergency information. This subsystem will empower emergency response and provide a national platform for emergency calls by citizens to the Nigeria Police nationwide. Under this subsystem, mobile emergency communication vehicles will also be deployed. The E-policing Subsystem will facilitate the deployment of E-policing databases; and the Video Conferencing sub-system will provide for video conferencing by all Commands of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with the Force Headquarters (FHQ) and among themselves.In order to build and develop indigenous capacity to operate and manage the NPSCS system, the contract provides for the off-shore training of personnel drawn from relevant security stakeholders, while an additional 1,000 personnel will be trained locally to handle the technology.The Guardian gathered that the major challenge confronting the implementation of the project are the rampant vandalisation of the installed cameras and solar panels by miscreants. However, measures are being implemented to curtail the vandalisation of installed equipment.The GoTa technology has been successfully deployed in over 40 countries. The Guardian reliably gathered that in early 2010, several violent earthquakes occurred in Haiti and Chile, the GoTA networks deployed in these two countries remain unaffected during the disaster, while other local communication systems were paralysed. The company is said to have implemented emergency communication systems worldwide, earning accolades from host governments. Some of the countries effectively utilizing the GoTA technology deployed by ZTE to provide an efficient emergency response for their citizenry include France (Marseille city), Venezuela, Malaysia, Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burma, Senegal and Tanzania.With the deployment of the GoTA network for national security operations, it is clear that the Nigerian Police Force is ever closer to achieving their vision of 'making the country safer and secured for the attainment of national aspirations' and its mission of delivering qualitative and efficient security and law enforcement services to the citizens of Nigeria.
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