The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu, has urged hotel owners, hospitality operators and transport unions to adopt the National Transit E-Manifest
(NTEM), to strengthen intelligence gathering and prevent crime.
Disu 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.
The programme had the theme: “Enhancing Hotel Security Through Digital Guest Registration and Real-Time Information Management.”
He 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.
According to him, the NTEM platform is designed to improve the management of passenger and hotel guest records, facilitate information sharing and strengthen intelligence-led policing.
Disu said the system would help security agencies identify suspicious movements, trace suspects, support investigations and respond promptly to emerging threats.
He identified handwritten passenger manifests and inadequate digital guest records as challenges that could delay investigations and hinder the timely retrieval and verification of information.
The I-G said integrating identity verification, including the appropriate use of National Identification Number (NIN) verification, into passenger registration and hotel check-in processes would improve the reliability of records.
He, however, stressed that the platform’s implementation must comply with relevant laws and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.
Disu 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 meet applicable requirements 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, represented by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai
Tijani, said the initiative’s success would depend on cooperation among security agencies, transport operators and hospitality businesses.
He urged transport union executives, motor park managers, hotel owners and security personnel to engage with the implementation team, understand the operational procedures and prepare their organisations for the rollout.
The police boss said effective implementation of NTEM would strengthen preventive policing, improve public-private sector cooperation and contribute to a safer environment for residents, visitors and investors.
He reiterated that security was a shared responsibility requiring cooperation, reliable information and respect for citizens’ rights.
A consultant to the Nigeria Police Force on NTEM, Mr Nelson Omanibe, said the platform would improve intelligence gathering, crime prevention and the protection of guests’ personal data.
Omanibe said the conventional submission of hotel guest manifests often caused delays, inaccurate records and difficulties in analysing large volumes of information.
He said such delays could allow suspected criminals to check into and leave hotels before the police received information about them.
According to him, NTEM would facilitate prompt transmission and analysis of guest information, supporting investigations, proactive policing and timely responses to potential threats.
He added that the platform was designed to prevent unauthorised access to or disclosure of personal information, describing it as timely in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
In the same vein, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Travi Mobile Ltd., Mr Jonah Ukoh, said NTEM would strengthen security, improve hotel operations and create jobs nationwide.
He said development began in 2021, with the platform undergoing pilot testing, reviews and upgrades before deployment.
Ukoh said NTEM would allow hotels to submit guest manifests once for access by relevant security agencies, ensuring timely information sharing and eliminating multiple submissions.
He said the platform’s electronic manifest control centre would help police verify guests’ identities, identify suspicious persons and respond promptly to security threats. Hotel registration would involve physical verification, while owners would authorise onboarding to prevent fraudulent listings.
Ukoh added that NTEM would operate independently of existing hotel management software, allow compatible systems to be integrated, provide hotels with free exposure to travellers and simplify guest check-in procedures.
