As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, Francis Eloagu, founder of SolidPro Security Company Ltd., has warned that economic growth and foreign investment would remain under threat unless the country shifts from reactive policing to intelligence-led security driven by technology and local capacity.
Speaking during a media chat, Eloagu said no serious foreign investor would commit capital to an environment where lives, assets, and critical infrastructure are unsafe, stressing that security is not just a safety concern but a key economic driver that determines investor confidence and national stability.
“Insecurity persists because threats move faster than response,” he said, noting that Nigeria still relies heavily on manpower without adequate real-time monitoring and coordinated response systems. According to him, modern security must prioritise prevention rather than reaction.
Drawing from over 15 years of experience as a security consultant in IT and electronic security, Eloagu explained that effective security lies in the integration of people, technology, and institutions. He identified Command and Control Centres, surveillance systems, call and dispatch coordination, and community-based reporting as essential tools for early threat detection and faster response.
He argued that Nigeria has the technical capacity to secure itself without excessive reliance on foreign control, warning that surrendering national security architecture to external interests poses long-term risks.
Eloagu noted that the deployment of advanced technologies such as smart CCTV, drone patrols, vehicle plate recognition, and real-time monitoring would enable security agencies to operate more efficiently, reducing the need for disruptive roadblocks and heavy physical presence on roads.
He added that intelligence-driven systems could also ease the burden of VIP protection by offering wide-area security coverage rather than dependence on individual armed escorts.
On the broader causes of insecurity, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria, Eloagu pointed to ignorance, unemployment, and youth neglect. He urged governments at all levels to invest in education and job creation, noting that security efforts would be more effective in a society that is informed and economically engaged.
He maintained that private security firms should complement, not replace, government authority by providing innovation, technology, and capacity while operational command remains with the state.
According to him, the nationwide adoption of intelligence-led security would enhance public safety, restore investor confidence, and lay a stronger foundation for sustainable economic growth.
