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By Zika Bobby
A group of Nigerian professionals under the auspices of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) has launched Synited Safe, a citizen-driven mobile and web application designed to facilitate anonymous or verified real-time reporting of crimes, suspicious activities and emergencies through automated geo-location tagging.
The official unveiling took place on July 9, 2026, in Abuja and attracted high-profile dignitaries from government, academia, the diplomatic community, civil society and the security sector.
Developed as an SPPG Capstone Project, the application is designed to bridge critical intelligence gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture by empowering ordinary citizens to serve as the “eyes and ears” of their communities through instant reporting and intelligence sharing.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ebimboere Seiyefa, Acting Head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Baze University, Abuja, and Advisory Board Member of the Conflict Research Network West Africa and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), underscored the importance of technology-enabled early warning systems.
According to Dr. Seiyefa, early warning and response mechanisms are critical for providing timely and actionable intelligence to security authorities.
She described platforms such as Synited Safe as evidence of an evolving security ecosystem in which citizens are active participants in tackling insecurity.
“Aggregating citizens’ reports gives credibility to intelligence gathering and places information, and the people who provide it, at the centre of the country’s security response,” Seiyefa said.
She added that widespread adoption of the platform could significantly strengthen accountability and encourage more proactive responses from security agencies.
Speaking as special guest, Dr. Amina Salihu, Director of Capstone Projects at SPPG and Director of the MacArthur Foundation (Africa), described Synited Safe as a product of value-based leadership.
She said the initiative demonstrates that SPPG’s 10-month Capstone curriculum is producing solution-builders capable of addressing Nigeria’s pressing national challenges.
Dr. Salihu identified trust, community policing and the link between social and physical security as the three pillars required to tackle insecurity across Africa.
She called for strategic partnerships to pilot the application in various communities and across security agencies.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics Matters, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a home-grown technological solution that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Mr. President is deeply concerned that many Nigerians still have to sleep with one eye open because of insecurity. Nigeria is a very large country, and the security challenge has persisted for a long time. Initiatives like this go a long way, and President Bola Tinubu welcomes innovative ideas of this nature,” Abiola said.
He disclosed that relevant government agencies would review the application to explore possible opportunities for integration with national security institutions.
Providing a regional perspective, the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Mali in Nigeria, Colonel Drissa Kone, described Synited Safe as a valuable addition to the West African security architecture.
He expressed optimism that other countries in the sub-region would eventually adopt the technology to combat terrorism, banditry and other cross-border security threats.
In a statement, the Head of Communications for Synited Safe, Jackson Chigbo Iwuanorue, described the platform as a targeted intervention designed to eliminate blind spots in the fight against crime.
“The key features of Synited Safe are designed to eliminate blind spots in the fight against crime and ensure breakthroughs through real-time intelligence sharing, safer communities and a stronger Nigeria,” Iwuanorue said.
In his closing remarks, the Project Team Lead, Uche Ekeledo, urged Nigerians to download and actively use the application, expressing confidence that widespread citizen participation would drive faster, more coordinated responses from law enforcement agencies.
