By Martin Ekpeke
The Osun State government is on the verge of unveiling a technology solution that will help tackle issues of security and ultimately forestall any attempt to attack the state from the rampaging herdsmen.
The solution, according to the Honorable Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye will be an unmanned aerial vehicle that will interface with the call centre through a short code, which has been provided by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The Commissioner explained that the unmanned aerial vehicles, which are attached to camera will ensure all live-stocks will have an ID, allowing farmers to immediately send SMS to the first three digits to the short code. “Once a farmer make a distress call or send an SMS, he will get a response from the call centre and within 15 minutes, there will be intervention,” Omowaiye said while giving a remark at the Information Communications Technology and Telecommunications (ICTEL) Expo, 2018 organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The solution, which will be unveiled next week, was designed, built and implemented in Osun State in tandem with the local content policy of the federal government.
Omowaiye added that apart from checking herdsmen excesses, the solution will also be used for other services such as ambulance services, because in the call centre you have linkage to the Army, the Police, and the security operatives.
He said the infrastructure to support the initiative has been developed by the State Government in partnership with other the private sector. “We have done a lot; we have the infrastructure. We are working in the area of power; of course, the major challenge IT has in Nigeria is power. So, we are working on power generation in the State. One thing that is key is for the companies operating in the environment to pay tax. Most of them don’t pay. What is coming from Abuja is not enough to carry out these projects, especially the investments we have done in infrastructure,” he emphasised.