Nigeria to launch 4 satellites to boost surveillance, tackle insecurity

Four more satellites (three Earth observation and one radar satellite) have been approved for launch by the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in an attempt to enhance monitoring and combat the country’s rising insecurity.

Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, made the announcement on Thursday, which is deemed a calculated step to aid military operations, particularly in remote locations like the Sambisa Forest.

The satellite initiative, according to Nnaji, who made the announcement at the 22nd National Council on Innovation, Science, and Technology in Abuja, represents an effort to increase local monitoring capabilities and lessen reliance on imported data.

READ ALSO: Japan sends world’s first wooden satellite code-named LignoSat to space

The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing gap between research and practical application, emphasizing that although the nation is full of talented young inventors, it still lacks the organized framework necessary to transform their concepts into viable products that are ready for the market.

Real-time intelligence gathering for military and law enforcement activities is made possible by satellite imagery and data, which will be utilized to monitor border regions, terrorism, and banditry.

With the satellites anticipated to replace or enhance previous Nigerian satellites such as NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2, and NigComSat-1R, this is part of Nigeria’s larger goal to become a technology leader in Africa.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now