The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has urged hotel owners and transport operators across Nigeria to adopt a digital manifest system to help security agencies track suspicious movements, identify suspects and prevent organised crimes.
Disu said the National Transit E-Manifest (NTEM) would strengthen intelligence gathering and improve the timely exchange of information among security agencies, hotels and transport operators.
He made the call at a stakeholders’ security engagement on the onboarding of hotels onto the platform, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, on Wednesday, with the theme, “Enhancing Hotel Security Through Digital Guest Registration and Real-Time Information Management.”
Represented by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Tijani, the I-G said criminals involved in kidnapping, human trafficking, armed robbery and other organised crimes often exploited gaps in passenger records and hotel registers to conceal their identities and movements.
He explained that handwritten passenger manifests and inadequate digital guest records could delay investigations and make it difficult for security agencies to retrieve and verify information when responding to security threats.
According to him, the NTEM platform would improve the management of passenger and hotel guest records, facilitate information sharing and support intelligence-led policing.
Disu said integrating identity verification, including the appropriate use of the National Identification Number (NIN), into passenger registration and hotel check-in procedures would improve the reliability of records.
He, however, stressed that the implementation of the platform must comply with relevant laws and protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
The police chief cited the Police Act 2020 as providing the legal basis for police crime prevention and detection, while noting that electronic records intended for court proceedings must satisfy the applicable provisions of the Evidence Act 2011, including Section 84 where relevant.
He also emphasised compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 in the collection, processing, storage and protection of personal information.
“Personal data must be handled only for legitimate purposes and in accordance with applicable legal requirements,” he said.
Disu urged transport union executives, motor park managers, hotel owners and security personnel to cooperate with the NTEM implementation team, understand the operational procedures and prepare their organisations for the rollout.
He said the success of the initiative would depend on effective collaboration among security agencies, transport operators and hospitality businesses.
The I-G added that the platform would strengthen preventive policing, improve public-private sector cooperation and contribute to a safer environment for residents, visitors and investors.
Also speaking, a consultant to the Nigeria Police Force on NTEM, Nelson Omanibe, said the platform would address delays and inaccuracies associated with the conventional submission of hotel guest manifests.
Omanibe explained that the manual system often made it difficult for the police to analyse large volumes of information, creating opportunities for suspected criminals to check into and leave hotels before relevant records reached security agencies.
He said the digital platform would facilitate the prompt transmission and analysis of guest information, enabling security agencies to support investigations, identify potential threats and respond more quickly.
Omanibe added that the system was designed to prevent unauthorised access to or disclosure of personal information, describing its introduction as timely in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Similarly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Travi Mobile Ltd., Jonah Ukoh, said the platform would strengthen security, improve hotel operations and create employment opportunities nationwide.
Ukoh said development of the platform began in 2021, followed by pilot testing, reviews and upgrades before its planned deployment.
He explained that NTEM would enable hotels to submit guest manifests once for access by relevant security agencies, reducing multiple submissions and improving the speed of information sharing.
According to him, the platform’s electronic manifest control centre would help the police verify guests’ identities, identify suspicious persons and respond promptly to potential security threats.
He added that hotel registration would involve physical verification, while owners would be required to authorise onboarding to prevent fraudulent listings.
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Ukoh said NTEM would operate independently of existing hotel management software, while allowing compatible systems to be integrated.
He further stated that the platform would provide hotels with free exposure to travellers and simplify guest check-in procedures.
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