The federal government announced on Wednesday that it has developed a mobile application called “Mobiliser” that Nigerian youth and the bulk of the grassroots people can download to their phones to report crimes and criminalities in real time, no matter where they are
“The application would help security agencies, such as the military, the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies, to swiftly respond to actions to track, apprehend, and prosecute offenders.”
This comes as Major Gen Adamu Laka, the Coordinator of the National Centre for challenge-Terrorism, has advised the Nigerian media to “use your medium of communications to promote mutual trust, build unity among Nigerians, and adequately counter the destructive ideologies and narratives of terrorist groups.
“ Issa Lanre-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), unveiled the new app at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja on Wednesday at a media briefing.
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator, presided over the meeting, which also included a former spokesman for the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Olukolade (rtd), and the ONSA’s Head of Strategic Communications, Zakari Mijinyawa.
Speaking at the meeting, NOA DG, represented by Director of Press, Paul Odenyi, stated that if youngsters were aware of the many noble projects that the government has in place for them, they would embrace them and refrain from engaging in violence.
His words: “We know and are aware that it is critical to include youth in all of our programs. I would want to use this means to inform you that the National Orientation Agency now has an App called ‘Mobiliser’ that allows Nigerian youth to report crimes and criminalities in real time. In his welcome remarks, NCTC’s National Coordinator, Maj.-Gen. Laka, stated that the Centre regards the media as vital partners in the battle against terrorism and other violent crimes, and that it was therefore necessary for both the media and security authorities to be on the same page.
He stated that in June of this year, the Centre, in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), held a two-day course on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting.
“While we rely on your support and cooperation as the final gatekeepers, all media content is frequently published with your permission. It is your place and sacred duty to take full control and effectively use your medium of communication to promote mutual trust, build unity among Nigerians, and adequately counter the destructive ideologies and narratives of terrorist groups.”
“There is no doubt that media content has been effectively used in the past to enlighten and reengineer the mind.
“They carry messages that encourage respect for human dignity, appreciation of our diversity, inspire loyalty and love of service for fatherland.
Major General Olukolade, a former spokesman for the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters, highlighted the need of crucial stakeholders, including the media, changing the narratives about the country.
Why this matters
One of the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s security landscape is the gap between citizens and law enforcement.
The app could help bridge this gap by creating a direct, accessible line of communication. Citizens who might have been hesitant to report crimes due to fear of retribution or lack of access to authorities now have a more secure and anonymous means to do so.
Bottom Line
The app’s capability to allow real-time reporting of crimes can potentially lead to quicker responses from security agencies. If effectively implemented, this could improve the ability of law enforcement to prevent crimes, track offenders, and bring them to justice, thereby enhancing public safety.
