The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to enhance space-based support for national security operations.
He stated this when the Director General of the agency, Dr. Matthew O. Adepoju, paid a visit to the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister stated that proactive, intelligence-driven operations are critical to defeating terrorism, banditry, and trans-border crimes, emphasising that the satellite-enabled surveillance, radar imaging, and signal analytics can significantly improve situational awareness, assist in identifying criminal routes and hideouts, and provide stronger operational support to troops on the frontline.
He stressed the need for a closer synergy between the NASRDA and the Defence Space Administration (DSA) to ensure seamless integration of space assets into military operations.
Speaking earlier, the NASRDA boss highlighted Nigeria’s existing space capabilities and international collaborations, disclosing that President Tinubu has approved the procurement process for additional satellites, including radar systems, to strengthen national security architecture.
He said the agency has also presented concepts for enhanced border surveillance and real-time intelligence support, designed to improve environmental awareness and operational effectiveness.
Both parties agreed to harmonise efforts, eliminate duplication of mandates, and develop a coordinated deployment framework to maximise efforts towards achieving effective national security operations.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to accelerate collaboration and leverage space-based innovations to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
Present at the meeting was the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, and the Director of Joint Services Department, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi.
