The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun Disu, on Monday presided over the 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) for West Africa, held in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place at Johnwood Hotel, brought together NCB heads from 16 West African countries, alongside senior representatives of the INTERPOL General Secretariat and regional security organisations.
Disu highlighted the growing threat of transnational crime across the sub-region, noting that criminal networks—including human traffickers, arms dealers, drug syndicates, cybercriminals, money launderers, and terrorist financiers—operate across borders with increasing sophistication.
He stressed that no single country can effectively combat these threats in isolation, underscoring the need for stronger collaboration and real-time intelligence sharing among member states.
“The success of our efforts depends on the strength, speed, and quality of partnerships across the region,” he said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s contributions, the IGP outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen policing infrastructure, including the expansion of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure communications network to border posts and law enforcement agencies nationwide. He said the initiative ensures that officers at entry points have access to the same real-time intelligence as those at national headquarters.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Project GEMINI, which involves the systematic uploading and verification of data on INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database. In addition, he pointed to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) as a key example of effective regional data integration.
Looking ahead, the IGP identified three priority areas for Nigeria: ensuring full access to INTERPOL databases across West African border systems; strengthening coordination for rapid joint operations; and building trust among NCBs to enhance information sharing.
He noted that without trust and transparency, even the most advanced security systems would be ineffective.
The leader of the INTERPOL delegation commended Nigeria for hosting the meeting and noted that the full attendance of all 16 NCB heads reflected a shared commitment to tackling regional security challenges.
He urged participants to move beyond discussions to measurable actions and adopt proactive strategies aimed at preventing crime before it occurs.
The meeting reaffirmed Nigeria’s central role in West African security cooperation and highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing 21st-century policing challenges.
