Experts Appraise CCTV Camera Installations At Public Facilities In Enugu

Following the recent directive by the Enugu State government to owners of public facilities to install close circuit television cameras, ICT and security experts have praised the move as capable of reducing crimes.

The Enugu state government had last week given owners of public facilities in the state up to six months to install CCTV cameras or face sanctions. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh.

A security expert, Kok Ezeugwu, who spoke to THE WHISTLER in Enugu on Tuesday said that the measure would checkmate crimes but warned that epileptic power supply would be a big challenge to installations of CCTV cameras.

“CCTV is a modern security gadget already in use in advanced countries. Even if an event happened in a long distance, it can be zoomed. Psychologically, if people understand that they are being monitored, they will be forced to obey the norms.”

Ezeugwu however stated that the major challenges confronting the project include power supply and substandard gadgets. In his words, “Power supply is a major challenge. Solar can be considered. Again, if you go to China, you get all categories of the cameras and videos, hence, the quality determines the efficiency.

“The facility also requires strong rooms because criminals can damage the machines after committing crimes. Nonetheless, some of the appliances can be monitored using computers and phones. The infrared also records both in darkness and light. I commend the state government for the bold step.”

For Edwin Ugwuja, a deputy commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the project would help to tackle crimes committed inside hotels, crimes that have become common in the Southeast part of the country.

He stated: “It’s one of the best forms of surveillances in modern security. With CCTV footages, security operatives can easily trace crimes and their culprits. The cameras also help in monitoring the psychology of individuals in public places.

“Most crimes carried out in hotels can easily be tracked as well. Modern security cameras are in the form of neckties, spectacles, face caps, and electric bulb buttons on a shirt. The idea of mounting visible cameras is no more in vogue, but still useful.

“Some CCTV cameras are in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which cannot be easily noticed. It is already operational in Anambra state, and I urge other states to borrow a leaf from Enugu state.”