Wike Urges G-7 States to Adopt Tech-Driven Security Strategy ‎

‎‎By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
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‎‎The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged the adoption of technology-driven security strategies and stronger inter-state collaboration to counter the rising wave of cross-border crimes threatening the nation’s capital and its surrounding states.
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‎Wike, represented by the FCTA Head of Service, Grace Adayilo, made the call on Thursday at the 10th G-7 Security Summit in Abuja. He emphasized the need for coordinated action among neighbouring states to dismantle criminal networks exploiting porous borders.
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‎According to the Minister, criminals are increasingly deploying technology to perpetrate crimes such as kidnapping, car theft, banditry, and human trafficking, which requires a matching response from security agencies.
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‎“It is important that our security agencies have access to modern techniques and strategies, among which is a joint operational strategy, to effectively curtail the forays of criminal elements at all levels,” Wike said.
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‎He tasked the G-7 Technical Committee – comprising security chiefs from the FCT and six contiguous states – to develop innovative and actionable frameworks to secure the capital and the wider region.
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‎“I therefore charge the members of the Technical Committee of the G-7 States to put on their thinking caps and come up with the most adaptable strategies in combating cross-border crimes and criminality,” the Minister stated.
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‎Reaffirming government’s support, Wike commended security agencies for their commitment and pledged to equip them with improved tools and resources to respond to emerging threats.
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‎Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, stressed the strategic importance of the G-7 Security Initiative, noting that criminal activity across the region often transcends state boundaries and cannot be tackled in isolation.
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‎ “Cross-border crime presents a challenge that no single state can confront alone. This summit provides a vital platform for developing collective strategies and intelligence-led interventions,” CP Adewale said.
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‎The summit, attended by security chiefs and government representatives from Niger, Kogi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, and Plateau states, focused on intelligence-sharing, coordinated operations, and enhanced vigilance across state lines.
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‎Established as a collaborative security framework, the G-7 Security Initiative serves as a united front against criminal activities, with periodic summits providing an avenue to assess progress, identify emerging threats, and align on collective solutions.
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