Nigerian military to use space science technology to impact national security, says DSA boss

- Space science technology will be adopted in the fight against insurgency

- The Defence Space Administration is partnering with the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) and the National Space Research and Development Agency

- The use of space science technology is to enhance the war fighting capability of the men on the field

The chief of defence, space administration of the federal Defence Space Administration (DSA), Major-General E.G. Whyte, has revealed that Nigeria will adopt the use of space science technology in fighting insurgency.

Major-General Whyte made this known at the inaugural ceremony of Basic and Intermediate training on space technology and spacecraft engineering on Monday, January 14, at the Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the event, the DSA boss noted that in contemporary times, science is required to effectively engage in warfare, adding that the Nigerian military will employ the use of space science technology to impact national security.

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He said the use of space science technology is to, “provide space services and products to the policy makers for decision making and then to the men on the field to enhance their war fighting capability. That is a multiplier effect.”

“Our core mandate is the enhancement of national security, leading to national development,” he emphasized.

Speaking on the challenges of the technology, he said: “We may not have gotten there but it is not everything we do that is open to the public. We have some collaborators that we got images from.

“But for us to get our own real time, we need to have the platforms, satellite in space, unmanned aerial vehicles with satellite modems that can have the view of the ground all the time. So, we can have platforms in the sky that can see 24 hours while flying low in an area of interest.”

Giving reasons for the training, he stated that the exercise, “is geared towards producing people that can analyze, interpret and mark these images, because sometimes what you see sometimes is different from what you see on ground.”

He also spoke on the DSA's partnership with the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)

His words: “They provide us with the necessary bandwidth and then we collaborate really on training. Now we are also collaborating on designing spacecraft because NIGCOMSAT has plan to launch two space crafts, so instead of waiting, because of the paucity of resources, everybody goes to the national center for resources.

“So, we decided to collaborate with them, design these satellites with them and put in our own transponders that can serve national interest or the military’s interest. So, we are in that process.

“We are also collaborating with NASRDA in that respect, because if we can use one satellite for multi purposes, there will be no need for several satellites been in space, looking at the huge cost of the amount.”

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Highlight of the programme was the official induction of the participants by Major-General Whyte.

Representatives of NIGCOMSAT and NASRDA also made remarks at the event.

Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on Nigerians to assist the families of the deceased soldiers who lost their lives defending the country.

The governor made the call on Sunday, January 13, at an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at Divine Way Baptist Church, Asaba as part of activities to mark the 2019 Armed Forces remembrance day celebration.

According to Governor Okowa, “Don’t just pray for the fallen heroes, assist the families they left behind. They have families they left behind, we must be compassionate to them and to those around us.”

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Source: Legit.ng