Harnessing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the management of ungoverned spaces in Nigeria: Policy and strategic way out

Abstract

Since 2008, the Federal government has witnessed series of security challenges predominantly Boko Haram insurgencies, banditry, kidnapping, separatist agitations and piracy operating from thick forests, largely ungoverned. Efforts by the government to eradicate these criminals have been taking serious economic hardship on the government and the people. This paper interrogates the need for the use of technology-driven approach (drones) to the management of ungoverned spaces in order to make government more responsible to the people in those territories as well as handle the miscreants therein now. This study therefore investigates how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can be used as a driving force to curtail criminal activities in these spaces and examine the existence of policies to drive utilisation of these technologies. The study carried out a field study on the subject matter and observed that interagency corporation, funding, data gathering and a holistic policy document addressing utilisation of comprehensive approach to the management of ungoverned spaces are ways forward in Nigeria.

Keywords: Ungoverned spaces, Security, ICT, Policy and strategy, Drones