FG Set to Launch National Criminal Database Centre in Abuja to Boost Crime Intelligence and Coordination
The Federal Government is set to begin operations at the newly established National Criminal Database Centre located at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, a landmark project designed to centralize criminal records and enhance intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies across the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Police Affairs in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), is part of ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing the nation’s criminal justice system and strengthening inter-agency coordination in crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution.
According to government sources, the new centre will serve as a national hub for criminal data collection and analysis, integrating records from police formations, the Nigeria Correctional Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other security agencies. It is expected to enable real-time data exchange between institutions, improve tracking of offenders, and support evidence-based decision-making in security operations.
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, explained that the centre will enhance national security architecture by eliminating duplication of criminal data and providing a unified platform for intelligence processing.
“The National Criminal Database Centre will serve as a single source of truth for criminal information, enabling our agencies to collaborate seamlessly in tracking, profiling, and prosecuting offenders,” he said.
He added that the centre will also help reduce cases of wrongful arrests, ensure faster background checks, and provide investigators with digital access to vital information that previously existed only in manual records.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in a related statement, emphasized that the database forms part of the Police’s broader Smart Policing Agenda, which focuses on digital transformation, forensic capability, and data-driven operations.
He noted that the system will be linked to the Police Crime and Incidence Database Centre (NPCIDC) and the National Criminal Data Fusion Centre, both housed at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Egbetokun revealed that the platform will be constantly updated with data from all police formations nationwide, ensuring that information on suspects, convicts, missing persons, and ongoing investigations is accessible to relevant agencies in real time.
“We are deploying technology to close information gaps, improve accuracy in investigations, and ensure that justice is served more efficiently,” he said.
Security experts have welcomed the move, describing it as a major milestone in Nigeria’s security modernization efforts.
They noted that a centralized database will not only help law enforcement identify criminal patterns but also improve collaboration between agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), NDLEA, Customs, and Immigration in tackling organized crime.
When fully operational, the centre will host biometric and forensic data, criminal records, and case histories, integrated with digital reporting tools and analytics dashboards.
It will also feature secure access controls to prevent data misuse while maintaining the confidentiality of ongoing investigations.
The National Criminal Database Centre is expected to commence full operations later this year, following final systems integration and staff training. Officials say the centre will play a pivotal role in advancing the federal government’s drive for an intelligence-led, technology-based approach to policing and internal security.
