(L-R) NSE chairman, Enugu branch, Engr. Chigbo Obealor; chair technical session NSE, Rev. Sis.(Engr.) Mary Valentia Okeke; Guest lecturer Engr. (Dr.) Harmony Nzeribe-Nwobodo; NSE vice chairman and Enugu State director of fire and rescue service, Engr. Okwudili Ohaa; NSE technical secretary, Nneka Nwalulu and Rev. Fr. Engr. Francis Agu during the technical session of NSE in Enugu recently
The Enugu Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has advocated the use of drone technology in tackling the security challenges confronting the state.
The group, made the proposal at its first meeting for the new year at the Nike Lake Resort, with a lecture entitled: “Deployment of drone technologies for enhanced security in Enugu State”.
The Enugu chairman of the NSE, Engr. Chigbo Obealor, who spoke at the meeting, disclosed that the resolution of the security crisis has become imperative to halt the continued loss of lives and properties in the coal city state.
He disclosed that the branch was in the forefront of building the drones that would help to stem the tide of criminal activities in the state.
The drone in question, he explained, would be able to detect fingerprints and match it with the already stored data in the National Identification Number (NIN), and others.
The NSE chief stated that by the time the branch was done with what it is developing, the technology would help the government and security agencies in the state to be more proactive on issues of insecurity.
Obealor therefore called on the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah to buy into the proposal to help his administration achieve its lofty goals for the state.
According to him, engineering and engineers remain the sustainable solution to the collective problems of the state through active participation in active politics.
“Government is for everybody and engineers are the most suitable agents of digital, virtual and physical development in any society”, he said.
In the lecture, Dr. Harmony Nzeribe- Nwobodo, lamented that insecurity was affecting the state and the country at large, recalling that five engineers that got disappeared while working on ring road in 2022 were yet to be found till date.
She said: “Enugu urban is also facing growing security challenges and we believe that drone technology presents a significant way of tackling the insecurity challenges in Enugu urban through installation of surveillance and security drones.
“Crimes of all sorts particularly, kidnapping and armed robbery have become a daily occurrence just as it is happening in all parts of the country with the criminals becoming more daring in demanding for ransom to free their captives.
“Also kidnapping dens where victims are kept like the Ugwogo-Nike axis are usually located in hinterlands and difficult terrains so it will really take a lot of resources and energy to combat this security challenge effectively.
“So, we are advocating the use of drones in combating the menace. Drones can effectively be used in surveillance, intelligence gathering and in launching strikes. The camera on drones can help in identifying enemy bases and troop movement and can strike when signalled”.
They also are of the view that more work should be done in intelligence gathering and “blind spots like surrounding bushes should be periodically raided, while uncompleted buildings should be adequately evacuated or policed”.
