Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has disclosed that the country is working in collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Presidency, to acquire a high-resolution satellite that can provide precise information about security threats.
Speaking at the 7th annual lecture of the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers (NISEng), NASRDA Director General, Dr Halilu Shaba, acknowledged that the current satellite in use, Sat X, is unable to address security concerns due to its low-resolution imaging capabilities.
Sat-X is an optical imaging satellite operated by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) which was launched in August 2011 with the objective of aiding disaster management, agriculture monitoring, and security. However, due to its low-resolution capabilities, it has proven ineffective in addressing security concerns.
Dr Sadiq Umar, the Director of the Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), who represented Dr Shaba at the event emphasized the limitations of the current satellite and highlighted the need for a high-resolution satellite that can effectively tackle security challenges.
“Nigeria Sat X is a remote sensing satellite with low resolution. We are thinking of high-resolution imagers that can pinpoint where problems are and solve them. You can pinpoint using 0.5 to 1-meter resolution, and we don’t have a space asset that is of that resolution.”
Dr Shaba highlighted the necessity for a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite capable of penetrating clouds and operating at night.
He emphasized the significance of space-based communication systems, such as satellites, for national security.
“Not only do they enable secure and real-time communication for military forces, government agencies, and emergency responders, but they also play a crucial role in weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, data transmission, and cybersecurity. Nigerian space assets have been instrumental in monitoring disasters and managing post-disaster recovery.”
Dr Shaba recommended strategic planning and investment, space diplomacy, collaborative frameworks, international cooperation, risk management, and contingency planning to maximize the use of space assets for security purposes.
Philips Babatunde