To enhance security: Ngoh Ngoh inaugurates video surveillance centre in Douala.

The inauguration ceremony took place yesterday at the esplanade of the newly constructed centre, in Bepanda, in the Douala V Subdivision. It unfolded under the watchful eyes of the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele.

Also present was the General Manager of Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday epse Achidi, other state officials, regional administrative authorities, heads of regional security services and a host of Sawa Chiefs, amongst others. 

Commissioning the Centre, Minister Ngoh Ngoh said, by opting for the use of the video surveillance system throughout the national territory, the State's law enforcement officers want to counter acts of organised crime, terrorism and other crimes that undermine the serenity of society.

He said the video surveillance system stands as a reliable solution, capable of contributing more effectively to a better security, through prevention and efficient management of these social scourges.

Enter CAMTEL General Manager 

Speaking at the event, the General Manager of the Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday epse Achidi, said the importance of security surveillance systems in the country propelled her corporation to deploy its engineers for the supervision of the entire project. 

"The installation and use of video surveillance cameras are essential for certain public buildings and squares, not to mention private property likely to be robbed, vandalised or desecrated. CAMTEL did not leave any stone unturn to make sure that this entire project comes to fruition," Yah Sunday said. 

She used the opportunity to reiterate CAMTEL's zeal to play her part in matters of public interest. 

Police boss hailed for innovation 

The event marks a commendable achievement of the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, who has stayed committed to the mandate given to him by the Head of State, Paul Biya, to modernise the country’s national security corps, improving performance and strengthening operational capacities of the police officers for an efficient security coverage.

Government, in view to strengthen the operational capacities of the defense and security forces, it should be said, launched, through the National Police in 2010, a nationwide project called "The Cameroon Intelligent Project".

The project consisted of installing approximately 5,000 video surveillance cameras in all the country’s ten Regions. These cameras, it was revealed, are linked to 17 command rooms and 10,000 transceiver stations equipped with cameras for communication between services within the corps.

The project also consisted the construction of "command centres" and "data centres" in each regional capital, installation of base stations, the interconnection of police services by optic fibre, the activation of videoconferencing between police services, the implementation of an emergency call management centre.

The implementation of the project had been divided into two phases. In August 2014, Minister Ngoh Ngoh had presided over the first phase, experimenting the video surveillance system in six localities including Yaounde, Douala, Garoua-Boulai, Kye-Ossi, Wasa and Kousseri. 

The positive results obtained gave the green light from the Head of State for an extension in other regions. This extension had begun with the installation of additional equipment aimed at strengthening the security coverage of the 2016 Women's AFCON. 

Faced with increased security challenges across the country and especially in the economic hub, Douala, the prompt mobilisation of security forces was of utmost importance.  

About the Centre 

Built on an area of 500 M² piece of land, the centre comprises a control room, a video conference room, a call centre, a data centre, an energy room, an emergency energy room composed of two generators and a petrol tank, a water tank of 10,000 M3.

Its cameras are capable to monitor the entire Littoral Region from the East entrance to the South, the West and beyond. Every strategic entry is fully monitored. 

It is concretely a brain capable of instantly detecting all forms of crime, traffic accidents, disruption of road traffic or any other form of urban disorder likely to trigger rapid and appropriate action by the police with an analytical processing of data with artificial intelligence.