Kaduna to spend N2.55 billion on drones, surveillance equipment in 2017

The Kaduna State Government has earmarked over N2.55 billion to procure CCTV cameras and drones, to provide adequate security cover in the state in 2017.

More than N1.5 billion of the amount was earmarked for the procurement and installation of CCTV cameras in strategic areas of the state, to reduce crime.

The figure is contained in the state’s 2017 budget document currently before the state House of Assembly.

“The N1.5 billion is for procurement and distribution of CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance towards reducing criminal activities within the metropolis and securing the state.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the government has also allocated N265 million for the procurement of drones “to identify locations of armed bandits in forest reserves across the state.”

The document indicated that the government would also spend N193.6 million to secure the state from the menace of kidnappers.

It said the money would be used to procure “geo-position interceptor and location of GSM, UMTS system to check trends, intercept and locate kidnappers’ GSM calls.”

The government also plans to spend N600 million in the coming year to set up a forensic laboratory, to assist in determining substantial evidence in cases that had proved difficult to solve in the past.

(NAN)