Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has approved the installation of 200 new surveillance cameras and the revamping of 50 existing ones to enhance security in Yenagoa, the state capital.
This was stated in a statement made available by Daniel Alabrah, the Governor's Chief Press Secretary on Friday, December 13, 2024.
The initiative according to him is part of the administration’s Safe City Programme targeted at bolstering crime prevention and ensuring public safety.
Governor Diri, currently on annual leave, made the announcement through the state’s Security Coordinator and Coordinator of the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps, Brigadier-General Eric Angaye (rtd), at a three-day conference organised by Security Watch Africa Initiatives in Doha, Qatar.
In his keynote address, Governor Diri emphasized the importance of integrating technology into security operations.
He stated, “The phased implementation of the Safe City Programme prioritizes the use of technology as a critical enabler for security and law enforcement.
This includes revamping an existing 50-camera system and installing 200 additional cameras to improve surveillance and domain awareness.”
Diri emphasised his administration's significant investment in physical, social, and digital infrastructure, which he described as essential for promoting peace, security, and economic development in Bayelsa State. He noted that these efforts have positioned Bayelsa as one of the safest states in Nigeria.
The governor also referenced other security measures, including the remodeling and relaunching of the special joint security task force, Operation Doo-Akpo, and the signing of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps Bill into law in December 2021.
The law unified the operations of Operation Doo-Akpo, Bayelsa Volunteers, and Bayelsa Vigilante under the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps to collaborate with statutory security agencies.
Meanwhile, at a gala dinner in Doha, Senator Diri was honoured as the Best Security Conscious Governor alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Katsina State Governor Mallam Dikko Radda.
Other notable awardees included Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and Ghana’s Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Dampare.
The late Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja was posthumously awarded Most Outstanding Army Chief in National Defence in Africa (2023/2024).
Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Brigadier-General Angaye (rtd) expressed gratitude to Security Watch Africa Initiatives for recognizing Bayelsa’s achievements in ensuring safety and peace, while commending the organisation for its commitment to celebrating Africa’s best in security and governance.
