The deployment of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and floodlights across Jos and other communities in Plateau State is drawing attention from residents who have endured months of deadly attacks and are now watching to see whether the technology will translate into tangible improvements in security.
The development comes nearly five months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised a major technology-driven security intervention for the state.
On April 2, 2026, Tinubu visited Plateau State to condole with the government and people following the March 29 gun attacks in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area. During the visit, the President pledged to deploy an artificial intelligence-enabled network of more than 5,000 digital cameras to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to tackle insecurity.
Since then, several killings have occurred across the state as residents awaited the promised security infrastructure.
The recent arrival of the CCTV cameras and floodlights has therefore been met with cautious optimism, particularly in communities that have experienced repeated violence.
Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the installations were approved as part of broader efforts to strengthen security, combat criminal activity and improve visibility in areas affected by darkness.
According to Ramnap, security gadgets are being installed in several communities, including Angwan Rukuba, Bauchi Road, the University of Jos, Mado community, Yelwan Zangam and Gangare.
The timing of the deployment is significant. Plateau has continued to grapple with attacks across several local government areas, leaving communities concerned about their safety and demanding more effective preventive measures.
Independent data gathered by Daily Trust shows that more than 313 people have been killed in Plateau State this year alone, with deaths recorded in Riyom, Mangu, Jos South, Jos North, Wase, Langtang, Barkin Ladi, Kanam, Bassa and Bokkos local government areas.
Against that backdrop, the CCTV project represents more than the installation of cameras on public infrastructure. If properly integrated into the state’s security architecture, the technology could support crime prevention, real-time surveillance, investigations and the preservation of evidence.
Security experts have also noted that as security systems become increasingly digital, CCTV can provide an “early warning and early system signal” that assists authorities in identifying suspicious activity, tracking suspects and responding to emerging threats.
But the deployment itself is only the beginning.
The critical question for Plateau residents is whether the cameras will remain operational long after the excitement surrounding their installation fades.
CCTV systems require reliable electricity, functional monitoring centres, adequate data storage, trained personnel and regular maintenance. Without these supporting structures, the cameras could become costly installations with little practical security value.
There is also a precedent that should concern policymakers.
Nigeria has previously experienced challenges with CCTV projects, including the controversial deployment in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where questions were raised over management, effectiveness and the financial obligations associated with the project.
Plateau must avoid repeating such mistakes.
For the current initiative to succeed, a properly equipped monitoring and response centre should be operational alongside the cameras. Trained personnel must be available to monitor feeds around the clock, analyse incidents and communicate rapidly with security agencies capable of responding to threats.
Maintenance must equally be treated as an essential component rather than an afterthought. Government will need sustainable funding for electricity, technicians, data storage, equipment replacement and periodic servicing.
Another challenge is the possibility of sabotage.
Security infrastructure installed in communities affected by violence could become a target for individuals who benefit from insecurity. Cameras, poles, floodlights and monitoring facilities must therefore be protected as critical security assets, particularly in vulnerable locations.
Community participation will also be crucial.
Residents are often the first to notice unusual activity in their neighbourhoods. Government should therefore involve community leaders, local security structures and civil society organisations in the deployment and oversight process.
People need clarity about where the cameras are located, how footage will be handled, who has access to the information and how faults or security concerns can be reported.
Building that trust could determine whether the project becomes an effective community security mechanism or another government initiative that loses public confidence.
For Plateau residents, the expectations are understandably high. They have heard numerous security promises, and what they need now is evidence that this particular intervention can produce results.
The CCTV and floodlight project has the potential to strengthen security across vulnerable communities, but only if the government treats it as a long-term security programme rather than a procurement and installation exercise.
The cameras can observe. They can record. They can provide intelligence and evidence.
But they cannot respond to an attack on their own.
Human beings must act on what the technology captures, and those responsible for monitoring the systems must do so professionally, promptly and without sentiment.
Plateau therefore needs the cameras to be operational, not ornamental.
If government sustains the infrastructure, protects it from sabotage, funds its operation and ensures that security personnel respond effectively to information generated by the system, the project could become a significant step towards making communities safer.
For a state that has suffered so many preventable deaths, another failed security project is not an option.
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