As a way of curtailing insecurity in the country, the House of Representatives is sponsoring a Bill to mandate the Federal and State governments to install Close Circuit Televisions, CCTVs.
When it becomes a law, the Bill intends to jail or compel private firms that fail to install the security device to pay heavy fine.
Entitled: “Integration of Private Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, Infrastructure into the National Security Network in Nigeria Bill, 2019,” the bill is sponsored by Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
The Bill provides for the integration of Private CCTV infrastructure into the National Security Network in Nigeria, and to compel “every private organization in Nigeria,” to within six months of the Act coming into effect, “install CCTV within and outside its premises with a view to maintaining perimeter security in medium-high secure areas and installations.
It will observe behavior of people to detect criminal activities within and outside the geographical location of the company, observe criminals within a reasonable time frame, providing a visual record of activities in situations where it is necessary to maintain proper security access control”.
It warns that any “company or organization in Nigeria that refuses, out of neglect to install CCTV Camera within and outside its premises, is liable to a fine of at least, N500,000 or an imprisonment of six months or both”.
It says “Continual refusal to install CCTV camera, shall attract a fine of at least 1 million naira or a year imprisonment or both. Where there is a complaint of missing items, lives and property, and the company/organisation within the complaint area, is unable to make its CCTV available to the law enforcement agents during the course of its Investigation, such company/organisation shall be liable for negligence and charged as an accomplice of the crime”.
The Bill charges High Courts of States to exercise jurisdiction over offences committed, while Federal High Courts will exercise same within the Federal Capital.
Under the new law, “All the private companies in Nigeria, shall apply or inform the Commissioner of Police in its area of jurisdiction, about the installation of the CCTV within and outside its premises”.
The sponsor of the instrument says “the broad objective of this Bill, is to expand the security network infrastructure in Nigeria with a view to protecting the lives and properties of citizens”.
