The Cross River State Government has approved the deployment of an Artificial Intelligence-powered surveillance system aimed at strengthening security, improving emergency response and enhancing climate resilience across the state.
The approval was granted by the State Executive Council for the first phase of the Smart Surveillance Infrastructure Project, which will deploy modern surveillance equipment at strategic locations as part of the state government’s drive to leverage technology for public safety and smart governance.
The Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr Bong Duke, disclosed this while presenting the project to the Executive Council, on Friday.
He said the initiative is anchored on the Cross River State Resilience Agenda (2026–2030) and is designed to replace the state’s obsolete analogue surveillance system, which currently provides limited coverage within Calabar and none in other major urban centres.
According to Duke, the project will be implemented through Huawei Technologies’ local partner, Dubass Synergy Multi-Services Limited, following technical engagements with the global technology company.
He explained that the first phase would cover major intersections and government facilities in Calabar Municipality, vulnerable coastal communities and waterways, the Ikang Expressway, Carnival routes and other identified security flashpoints.
The surveillance facilities will be linked to a central Command Centre at the Office of the State Security Adviser to enable real-time monitoring, intelligence gathering and coordinated emergency response.
“The infrastructure will provide uninterrupted monitoring of strategic assets, strengthen intelligence gathering and significantly improve coordinated emergency response across the state,” Duke said.
He explained that the system would feature AI-enabled smart cameras with facial recognition, automatic number plate recognition, violence and theft detection, fire alerts, flood-level monitoring and illegal waste-dumping detection.
The project will also include industrial solar-powered installations, wireless data transmission infrastructure and a unified video analytics dashboard to ensure uninterrupted operations.
According to him, the surveillance architecture will support flood early-warning systems, improve traffic management, curb indiscriminate waste disposal, reduce crime and strengthen environmental monitoring.
Duke expressed optimism that the initiative would reduce emergency response times in Calabar from over 45 minutes to less than 12 minutes.
He added that the infrastructure would also strengthen security preparations for AFSNET 2026 while positioning Cross River as a technology-driven and investment-friendly destination.
Beyond improving public safety, Duke said the project is expected to create employment for at least 120 local technicians who will participate in civil works and equipment installation.
He noted that the approval reflects Governor Bassey Otu’s commitment to deploying innovation and technology to safeguard lives, protect critical infrastructure, stimulate economic growth and build resilient communities across the state.