Nigeria's Defence Minister-designate, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has called for a comprehensive national database and real-time tracking of ransom payments as part of efforts to curb insecurity across the country.
Gen. Musa made the call on Wednesday during his five-hour screening before the Senate, after which lawmakers later confirmed him for the position.
Speaking during the exercise, the former Chief of Defence Staff said Nigeria must emulate developed nations by building a unified national data system to support intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and development planning.
"If we look at first-world countries, why are they succeeding? They've been able to put some basic things in place, something as simple as a database for all citizens," he said.
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"I think that's one area we need to build to assist the security forces. Even developmentally, we need to know the number of people in particular areas. It's important that we have a comprehensive database; we need a unified one so that when you commit a crime, it's easier to track and trace."
Musa noted that the absence of centralised information allows criminals to move freely across states.
"That aspect that people can easily commit one crime in Sokoto and run to Maiduguri or Kano to stay, and nobody knows them, makes it a lot easier for them," he said.
He advocated the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure offenders are digitally and financially traceable, citing examples of countries where offenders' bank accounts are immediately blocked once a crime is established.
"Now with ICT, we can do a lot. It is important at this stage to look at how we can link all that data together to have a unified one that will assist us."
The minister-designate also emphasised the need to disrupt the financial operations of kidnappers.
"We must stop ransom payment. Even when ransoms are being paid, we can track the money being paid; there's a lot we can do using the banking system," he said. "If we are able to have a database and every Nigerian has a number linked to everything electronic, we can monitor anything."
Musa further called for stiffer penalties for terrorism and kidnapping, pointing to countries in the Middle East where suspects face decisive punishment.
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"I think we need to make it very punitive. The kidnapping issue, the way it's been treated in courts, you'll get somebody arrested, and the cases are prolonged. It doesn't make it well," he said.
His remarks came as the Senate, earlier in the day, took steps to strengthen Nigeria's anti-kidnapping laws by proposing a death penalty for kidnappers and those who finance or aid them, as part of amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
