Crime
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Pakistan offers to partner with Nigeria on the use of technology for data management and crime control
| By Vincent Nzemeke | Sep. 9, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT
AS government and other stake holders in Nigeria seek ways to reduce crime in the country, the government of Pakistan has expressed its willingness to partner with Nigeria on the use of technology for data management and crime control. The Pakistani high commissioner to Nigeria, Muhammad Saleem, disclosed this when he visited Ashiru Daura, acting director-general, National Information Development Agency NITDA, in Abuja on Tuesday, August 27, 2013.
The envoy said that Pakistan had made remarkable achievements in the development of technologies for data and identity management which is very useful in fighting crime. “Pakistan has achieved almost 100 per cent of people carrying a very modern card fitted with SIM on which they carry along with them all their biometry and everything. All our boarders in Pakistan have the facilities of connectivity with which we can track the data of anyone coming in and out of the country.
Saleem said that the country was also capable of assisting Nigeria to develop the value chain required for the development Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including the manufacturing of tractors. He, however, advised the Nigerian authorities to put in place proper policies that would boost the growth of indigenous technology. “If your policies favour import, you will never be able to develop anything indigenously. Your policy must not to favour import only. You have to put your policy regime first in the right direction. Once your policy is in the correct direction, then you can seek help from the people to put the whole chain directly in place”
Saleem also disclosed that the partnership will help Nigeria because a lot of farming implements are sold at a cheaper price in Pakistan. “The tractors which you are importing from other countries, Pakistan can supply you the same thing with 2,000 dollars cheaper, because we are producing it cheaper and we are marketing in Pakistan. So, indigenous approach is always good. Pakistan has been very lucky because we are subjected to many sanctions because of our nuclear programme and those sanctions were blessings to us because we have started producing our own things. That is why we need to cooperate to move forward.’’
In his response, Daura said that collaboration at various levels remained a key to success. He said the agency looked forward to working with the Pakistani government in the development of the Nigeria’s technology sector. He listed some of the agency’s possible areas of collaboration with Pakistan to include software development, capacity building on information and communication technology, among others. “We will look at our requirements and follow the due process on issues of collaboration between the two countries, through the various ministries.”
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