Nigeria's Defence Minister Laments Lack of National Database for Criminal Tracking

Nigeria's Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, lamented the absence of a national database, stating that security agencies' efforts to track criminals without one are akin to performing "magic." He emphasized that the lack of a centralized system for citizen information hinders investigations and intelligence gathering, making it harder for law enforcement to identify suspects and combat crime effectively.

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Security agencies are not magicians. Without timely information and public support, it becomes extremely difficult to prevent criminal activities.

Musa made these remarks at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026. He highlighted that criminals use sophisticated communication and financial systems and exploit societal issues like poverty and weak governance. He also noted that many security challenges persist because communities are often reluctant to report suspicious behavior, even when witnessing vandalism of public infrastructure.

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The threats we face today are increasingly organised, adaptive and technology-driven.

The minister stressed that evolving security threats require a shift from a government-only approach. He argued for the private sector's vital role in national security, citing examples of private security, technology, logistics, and cybersecurity firms contributing to national resilience worldwide. Musa called for Nigeria to adopt a similar structured and regulated framework, integrating private sector capacity into the nation's security architecture.

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We have seen instances where public infrastructure such as solar-powered streetlights, railway facilities and public utilities are vandalised or stolen. These crimes are often committed in communities where people witness suspicious activities but fail to report them.