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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has urged hoteliers, transport operators and other stakeholders to adopt the National Transit E-Manifest (NTEM) technology to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, human trafficking and other crimes.
Disu said the digital platform would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve access to passenger and hotel guest records, and enhance the capacity of security agencies to prevent and investigate criminal activities.
The IGP, represented by the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, spoke at a stakeholders’ engagement on NTEM held at the Police Officers’ Mess, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
He identified one-chance robbery, highway attacks, kidnapping and human trafficking as crimes facilitated by gaps in passenger documentation and hotel registration procedures.
According to him, the transition from manual record-keeping to technology-driven processes would improve the accuracy, accessibility and verification of relevant information needed by investigators.
He explained that NTEM was designed to provide a coordinated digital platform for transport operators, motor park managers, hospitality businesses and authorised security agencies.
The system integrates identity verification, including the appropriate use of National Identification Number (NIN) verification, with passenger manifest and hotel check-in procedures.
Disu said the initiative would help security agencies identify suspicious movements, trace suspects and respond promptly to security incidents.
He, however, stressed that implementation must comply with relevant laws, particularly the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, to safeguard citizens’ privacy and personal information.
He urged transport unions, hotel owners and hospitality managers to maintain accurate records and ensure responsible use of the platform.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Travel Mobile Limited, Jonah Uko, explained that NTEM was developed to improve accountability, strengthen security and support investigations through better management of travellers’ and hotel guests’ information.
Uko said hotel guests who refused to provide required information would not be checked in, adding that operators could alert relevant security agencies when necessary.
He emphasised that protecting personal information was essential to building public confidence in the system.
According to him, the platform was designed to secure, store and transmit information responsibly while making relevant records accessible to authorised security agencies.
Uko disclosed that implementation had commenced in Lagos, with engagements involving hotel operators, industry unions and security agencies to encourage adoption.
He warned that operators who deliberately failed to comply with applicable legal requirements could be held accountable, expressing confidence that the initiative would improve security and public trust in the hospitality and transport sectors.
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