Nigeria Considers Technology-Driven Tollgates to Strengthen Highway Security
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has proposed combining electronic toll systems with modern surveillance and biometric identification to help security agencies detect and track criminal movements across the country.
Abuja,Nigeria — The Nigerian government is considering new technology-based measures to address insecurity on major highways, following a proposal by Defence Minister Christopher Musa to restore tollgates equipped with modern surveillance systems.
The minister said the proposed system could give security agencies better access to information about vehicles travelling across the country, helping them identify suspicious movements and trace individuals linked to criminal activities.
Musa presented the proposal during a security and policy discussion in Abuja titled Promise to Proof: The Renewed Hope Conversation, organised by the All Progressives Congress Strategy Roundtable.
He explained that modern tolling systems used in some countries go beyond collecting road charges. Through vehicle registration recognition and electronic payment systems, they can also provide useful information for security monitoring without requiring motorists to stop for manual transactions.
The defence minister also called for improvements to Nigeria’s national identification system through the integration of personal identification numbers, facial recognition and fingerprint technology.
According to him, combining these tools could strengthen identity verification, improve intelligence gathering and make it easier for security agencies to track criminal networks.
The proposals come amid persistent concerns over kidnapping, banditry and other security threats affecting road users in different parts of Nigeria.
However, the minister's recommendations highlight the growing importance of technology in the country's efforts to improve public safety and strengthen the capacity of security agencies.
