On April 2, 2026, when President Bola Tinubu paid a condolence visit to the government and people of Plateau State following the March 29 gun attacks in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, he promised to deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras to help law enforcement agencies combat insecurity in the state.
Several killings have taken place since the president’s remarks as they waited patiently for the cameras to arrive.
However, a few days ago, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and floodlights have been deployed across Jos and other communities in Plateau State.
Not surprising, the people in Jos and environs are closely watching the deployment with cautious optimism.
Coming at a time of incessant attacks and killings, the government seems to have realised that in the attempt to solve the insecurity puzzle, all lawful efforts must be explored. According to Joyce Ramnap, State Commissioner for Information and Communication, the devices were deployed to be able to help curb crime and threats and reduce darkness.
She said in order to improve security in the state, the government approved the installation of security gadgets in various communities, including Angwan Rukuba, Bauchi Road, University of Jos, Mado community, Yelwan Zangam, Gangare, among others.
Like other people, we at Daily Trust also see this as a welcome development for a state that has witnessed a lot of killings. But, we are also watching the deployment with cautious optimism, earnestly hoping that the cameras would serve the purpose they are meant to beyond the euphoria of procurement and installation.
Independent data gathered by Daily Trust shows that this year alone, more than 313 people have been killed in various local government areas of the state including Riyom, Mangu, Jos South, Jos North, Wase, Langtang, Barkin Ladi, Kanam, Bassa, and Bokkos.
While CCTV alone cannot put an end to the attacks and killings, deploying them will certainly serve as a powerful tool for crime deterrence, real-time tracking and evidence collection when integrated into a broader, well-funded security strategy. Security experts say the world is digitalising and CCTV offers an “early warning and early system signal” that can aid tracking, investigation and deterrence.
For communities that have borne the brunt of violence, any measure that promises safety deserves not only a chance but collective support as well. That is why the optimism among residents must not be allowed to wane. And that can only happen if this project does not go the way of others.
Nigerians have seen instances where CCTV deployment ended as mere show. Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory is an example of how the CCTV project was mismanaged and left the country in debt.
There are also questions about power, effective monitoring rooms, and competent personnel to watch the feeds 24/7. Without convincing answers, these devices will become expensive decorations on poles.
Many people have also raised concern about maintenance and sustainability. These must be accorded priority from day one. It is not enough to install. There must be a budget for power, for technicians, for data storage, and for periodic servicing. A monitoring and response centre with trained staff must be functional before the cameras go live, not after. Government must resist the temptation to launch and forget.
There is also the risk of sabotage. Insecurity thrives because some people benefit from the crisis. Those who profit from chaos, kidnapping and attacks will not be happy with cameras that can identify them. Adequate security must therefore be provided to ensure the infrastructure is not vandalized the moment it begins to work. The cameras, poles, and control rooms must be protected as critical assets.
Also, the authorities must get the buy-in of the communities. Residents are the first line of intelligence. They must know where the cameras are, how the data will be used, who is watching, and how to report faults. Community leaders, vigilantes, and civil society should be carried along in both deployment and oversight. Without public trust, even the best technology will fail.
Plateau people have heard all manner of promises. They must now begin to see results. The CCTV and floodlight project can be a turning point if the government treats it as more than a public relations exercise and communities jealousy guard the infrastructure.
All stakeholders must make the gadgets operational, not ornamental.
If Plateau gets this right, it will prove that innovation plus political will can make our communities safer. The state cannot afford another failed project. But above all, people must support this project to make it a success. This is so because humans will have to act on what the gadgets will capture. The operators must therefore act with all sense of responsibility and devoid of sentiment.
