December 13, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has approved the installation of 200 closed-circuit surveillance cameras across Yenagoa, alongside the upgrade of 50 existing units, as part of the state’s ongoing Safe City Programme aimed at enhancing security and crime prevention.
The announcement was made during a three-day conference organized by Security Watch Africa Initiatives, which concluded Thursday night in Doha, Qatar.
Diri’s keynote address was delivered by the state’s Security Coordinator and Coordinator of the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps, Brig-Gen. Eric Angaye (rtd).
According to the governor, the deployment of surveillance technology reflects his administration’s commitment to leveraging digital solutions to improve security and governance.
“The use of technology as a critical enabler for security and law enforcement operations has received priority attention through the phased implementation of a Safe City Programme. This includes revamping a legacy 50-camera system and the addition of 200 cameras to enhance surveillance and domain awareness,” Governor Diri stated.
He highlighted his administration’s broader investments in physical, social, and digital infrastructure, noting their impact on promoting peace, security, and economic opportunities in Bayelsa.
He recalled the remodeling and relaunch of the Operation Doo-Akpo joint security task force and the enactment of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps Bill in December 2021.
This legislation integrated Operation Doo-Akpo with special outfits such as Bayelsa Volunteers and Bayelsa Vigilante under one umbrella to support statutory security agencies.
“In line with our commitment to making Bayelsa State inhospitable to criminal elements, we streamlined our security framework to bolster efforts to rid the state of crime. Today, Bayelsa is ranked as perhaps the safest state in Nigeria,” Diri said.
At a dinner event on Thursday, the governor was recognized as the Best Security Conscious Governor, sharing the accolade with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Katsina State Governor Mallam Dikko Radda.
Other honorees included Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service Adewale Adeniyi, and Inspector-General of Police of The Gambia, Seedy Touray, among others.
The late Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, former Chief of Army Staff, was posthumously honored as the Most Outstanding Army Chief in National Defence in Africa (2023/2024).
Receiving the award on behalf of Governor Diri, Brig-Gen. Angaye (rtd) expressed gratitude to Security Watch Africa Initiatives for recognizing the state’s efforts in promoting safety and security.
“We appreciate the acknowledgment of the modest strides of the Bayelsa government in ensuring safety and peace in the state. This recognition underscores our dedication to making Bayelsa a model of security and governance,” Angaye said.
He also lauded the organization for spotlighting Africa’s champions in security, safety, and governance.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
