The Centre for information technology and development (CITAD), has launched an Android application called (CIGIYA) to help people search for lost items and the locations they can be found.

This was communicated by the CITAD Technical Officer Engineer Kamaluddeen Umar, at a press conference during the launch of the application at the center’s conference room in Kano.

He said that the purpose of unveiling the application is to help people to easily trace their lost items by just going through and searching the lost items in the application via their phones.
He added that they will engage transport unions, media and security agents in the process and train them on ways to upload lost items in the application.

“The CIGIYA app, which is the first of its kind is a lost and found application that will facilitate the searching of lost items by people and help transport associations, media houses and other relevant organization to generate a database of lost item. This will enable individuals to use the application to search for possible found items and the location they were submitted.

“Most of the transports association having parks have a number of unclaimed lost items as a result of uncertainty of where the items are submitted. The announcement made in the media houses does not reach some people who lost their items as the announcement may happened when they are not on the tune and it is normally within short days.

“With the new CIGIYA app a permanent database of lost items will be available online and people can search it any time by item type, date range or car park or stations. The data base will simply be generated by the representative of agreed park, media house or unions,” he added.

CITAD calls for non-violent resolution of insurgency
He further said that the application will contain name of the item, unique ID, date it was lost, park or location where it was submitted and picture (actual picture may be replaced by sample picture or just the name in case of items with bare identification).

He added that CITAD has already consulted some transport unions which include Tricycle Operators Association of Kano State (TOAKAN) and Tsaya da Kafarka Taxi Association, Kano.

It also has plans to collaborate with the media houses, security outfits and other relevant stakeholders and the application is designed to have simple interface both for data entry and item searching.

“CIGIYA App. will be very effective solution for facilitating and enhancing searching for lost items as well as reducing the occupied space by the lost items in the transport parks, unions offices and media houses,” he added.