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Data mining simply involves extracting and The question is how can a criminal be caught
analyzing data in order to discover trends, if you don’t have his basic bio-data?
patterns and correlations. Data collection is
This brings us to the importance of a cashless
faced with diverse problems in Nigeria. This
or credit society as seen in most developed
is because in most cases its importance is not
countries. America for instance operates an
emphasized in many developing nations.
economy in which people do not need to
Data collection no doubt is a complex
hold cash all the time before they purchase
process that involves the use various
items on the street. The use of credit cards
statistical methods and sophisticated
by individuals which is a common way of
computers; in most cases it requires constant
settlement facilitates easy transfer of funds.
update overtime. In the committee of
But this is often used in monitoring the
nations, only developed countries
movement of individuals in advanced
continuously emphasize and use data for the
economies. Once an individual uses his credit
growth and development planning. Most
card or ATM card, his current location is
developing countries pay lip service to the
known to security agencies such as the CIA,
use of data for such endeavours. In Nigeria
FBI among others. This however does not
for instance, there are few recognized
mean that having accurate data on the
agencies which collect and accumulate
citizens instantly reduces crimes rate but it
personal data of citizens both within and
enables criminals to be easily apprehended
outside the country; where these records
which in turn instil in them the fear of the
exist they are often fragmented and almost
law. Also the issue of dual personality or
useless. Hence government agencies have no
changing certain personal information like
holistic record of the names, address,
date of birth seldom occurs since national
occupation, location, records of place of
records can be easily accessed. Conversely
birth, finger prints and other relevant record
operating a ``cash full economy’’ does not
of citizens. The absence of these vital
imply that data collection and management
information have seen people go missing
isn’t as important as it is in a credit economy.
without being found, criminals fleeing with
Its importance would be highlighted in
the securities agencies not being able to
subsequent paragraphs. Also applicable in
apprehend them and cases where people can
the corporate environment, data collection
easily change their identity and personal
and management has helped many small and
details hence promoting forgery and theft.
large corporations in risk management. The
Erumebor Rume Wilson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Delta State
University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria