Assessing the Hurdles and Remedies to the Use of ICT for Enhanced Intelligence Gathering and Community Safety in Abuja, Nigeria

This research examines the challenges and opportunities of implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance intelligence gathering and promote community safety in Abuja, Nigeria. As security threats become increasingly complex, integrating ICT tools such as biometric systems, surveillance technologies, and data analytics has become essential for effective and timely intelligence operations. Despite these potentials, widespread application remains limited due to infrastructural deficits, insufficient technical capacity, financial limitations, and socio-political constraints. Employing a quantitative research approach, data were collected from 384 respondents using a structured questionnaire across key locations in Abuja, achieving a 94% response rate. The analysis reveals that while ICT significantly contributes to intelligence gathering and public safety, its implementation faces ongoing challenges, including unreliable internet access, limited funding, low digital skills among operatives, and concerns about ethical surveillance. Grounded in Technological Determinism and Human Capital Theory and supported by existing empirical literature, this study contributes to current discourse by highlighting the underexplored role of digital technologies in Nigeria’s security framework. Recommendations include increasing investment in ICT infrastructure, enhancing training for security personnel, improving policies, and fostering stronger collaboration between government and private stakeholders to support intelligence-led policing and community safety.