Rising Demand for Security and Surveillance Equipment in Africa

The evolving and rising nature of crimes in Africa have seen many people relying on contemporary and effective ways to monitor their businesses, homes and events. Over the years, it has become evident that man guards, the most popular response to crime in many African countries have become inadequate, and newer ways are being sought to ensure a combination of electronics support to enhance the effectiveness of Man Guarding on the back of technology in creating solutions around different risk equation and demands for safety. 

This explains an increasing demand in African countries for electronic security, which is the use of technology and electronic devices to provide safety and security for lives, assets, and businesses, by preventing and unauthorized access to restricted premises, critical assets, and sensitive data. This is done, leveraging on contemporary electronic security systems, intrusion & panic sensors and alarms, electronic access control systems, and CCTV/Video surveillance systems and analytics.

A case in point is the Nigerian market which has responded positively to the electronic security market. In Nigeria, many private individual commercial establishments and government bodies are now investing on improving the quality of safety. A major factor contributing to these improvements are the wave of terror, kidnapping, some basic regulations being implemented in some sensitive sectors like FSI, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. In fact, security systems are also now adopted as a strong basics for quality certification. Commercial establishments have also adopted security systems/programs as a strategic value proposition. Security in the face of the optimism, the market is still faced with a major challenge of premature and poor infrastructure, like power, physical development and in proper planning and legislation.

Influence of technology and the growth trend

Since the creation of the ear-piercing burglar alarm systems, profound level of fear amongst the public and a demand for more cost effective and efficient measure has increased demand for electronic security.

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has simplified the approach and made technology a critical factor in combatting the risk management deficient in every society. Technology is therefore a critical enabler in creating a sustainable Security management framework. 

The developed society today have invested billions of dollars in cities counties, states communities, critical infrastructure, real estate sectors on electronic security systems such as CCTV surveillance systems, access control and other security and surveillance equipment and gadgets. 

Africa is still way behind in this regard. But few discerning countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa are beginning to take steps in the right direction.  The system integration capability in electronic security has tremendously helped law enforcement in several African countries in apprehending criminals and law breakers. Most evidences produced through the platform has proven reliable.

As it is, the global Electronic Security System market is characterized by various factors. The United State of America is considered to be the largest market followed by Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa and is expected to be worth US$80 billion by 2020. It is envisaged that there will be a huge demand in CCTV and Video Surveillance and critical need to restrict unauthorized access due to the rising global insecurity which is considered to be borderless.

Also, knowing that the African market is still evolving towards a one-dimensional strategy, which is why the market is not growing at the appreciable ratio. After South Africa, Nigeria is the second largest market of video surveillance systems in the Sub-Saharan region and is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 5.3 percent from till 2022.

It is expected that the market for civil security technologies in Kenya and Tanzania will also register robust growth in the future. Industrial growth and the increase of urbanization in both countries open up additional market potentials for the use of security technologies. Both in the commercial and public sectors the demand for high-tech video and alarm systems, electronic access control and specialty equipment especially will be on a high level. In addition, the threat of terrorist attacks plays a significant role. Fields of application of electronic security technology are strategically important facilities, such as airports, railway stations or other urban infrastructure.