Availability and Utilization of ICT Facilities for Enhancing University Campus Security in South-South, Nigeria: A Recent Study

Abstract

This research work determined the availability and utilization of ICT facilities for the purpose of enhancing university campus security in South-south, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and one null hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised 1,520 security personnel from the 12 government-owned universities in South-South, Nigeria. The proportionate stratified sampling technique was used to sample 456 security personnel. The data was collected using a "Checklist on Availability of ICT Facilities for Enhancing University Campus Security (CAICTFEUCS)" and a "Utilization of ICT Facilities for Enhancing University Campus Security (UICTFEUCS)" five-point rating scale questionnaire. Three specialists independently validated the instruments. The reliability of the instruments was determined using the Cronbach Alpha method using SPSS, and reliability values of .75 and .78 were found for the two instruments, with an overall reliability coefficient of .77. Out of the 456 copies of the instrument administered on the respondents, 433 copies representing about 96 percent were successfully retrieved and used for data analysis. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze data related to research question 1 while mean and standard deviation were used to answer research question 2. At the .05 level of significance, the Z-test statistic was used to test the null hypothesis. The study's findings revealed that ICT facilities are insufficiently available for improving university campus security in South-South, Nigeria. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of respondents from federal and state universities on the extent ICT facilities are being utilized by university campus security personnel in South-South, Nigeria. According to the study, the level of availability and utilization of ICT facilities for enhancing university campus security in South-South, Nigeria was insufficient for combating security challenges in the university system. Based on the findings and conclusions, it was suggested that the Nigerian government and university administrators train campus security personnel on how to use modern ICT facilities. This is to ensure that they are fully competent and equipped to use ICT facilities in combating various campus-related crimes, thereby protecting lives and property within the university community.