Some Nigerians on Friday called for effective record-keeping among security agencies as a strategy to fight crime better and enhance good governance. In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, they said that keeping proper records of criminals and crimes would improve security and strengthen the future. A lawyer, Mr Samuel Ogala, said that improper record-keeping by some security agencies had affected their abilities to combat crime. Ogala alleged that there was no documentation of criminals and crimes in some police stations.

“An individual can commit a crime in state A and go and live in state B without the security agencies knowing that he or she committed a crime somewhere else. When there is documentation, the movement of a criminal from state A to state B can be controlled. Security agencies in state B would have known about him or her, because they already have his or her profile. This will reduce the amount of money we spend on  chasing criminals; it will also help to identify who you are and what you do as a Nigerian;  it will help a lot in nation-building,’’ Ogala said.

The Director of National Archives of Nigeria, Malam Abdulyekin Umar,  said that record-keeping  had become a challenge in Nigeria . He said that a recent convention of the Society of Nigerian Archivists (SNA) which held in Abuja was for stakeholders to brainstorm on ways records could be kept and managed properly. “The National Archives, in conjunction with the SNA and other stakeholders, is trying to come up with better ways of preserving precious records generated by governments at all levels. This is because good record will enhance good governance in this country and, in turn, strengthen our democratic values and future,’’ Umar said.

According to Brig.-Gen. Charles Bossman, Director, Nigerian Army Archives, Ikeja Military Cantonment, the military takes record-keeping seriously. “Record-keeping is very important; you need to know where you are coming from and the plan for the future; only record can tell your history. Records are necessities; we may need them in future for legal tussle and to know the history of any organisation or country. The Nigerian Army is very serious about record-keeping; both for promotion, posting and other things; we do not joke with record-keeping,’’ Bossman said.

The Nation