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Daniel Adaji
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) will on Tuesday launch a new space security platform designed to monitor and regulate the nation’s space ecosystem.
The initiative marks a strategic step toward countering the growing exploitation of satellite technologies by insurgents and criminal groups.
The unveiling ceremony will be officiated by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji.
Speaking with our reporter on Sunday, NASRDA’s Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, emphasised that the platform is vital for addressing threats posed by unregulated satellite communications—now increasingly used by terrorists.
“Intelligence reports show that insurgents are shifting away from terrestrial communication systems, opting instead for sophisticated satellite tools that are harder for conventional security systems to intercept,” Ale explained.
He warned that the lack of regulation in Nigeria’s space sector has left the country vulnerable to severe security risks.
“The absence of effective control mechanisms poses grave dangers. We are witnessing a disturbing trend where technologies intended for development are being weaponized for destructive purposes,” he said.
According to Ale, the new platform is part of broader reforms led by NASRDA Director General Dr. Matthew Adepoju, aimed at positioning the agency as a key player in Nigeria’s national security strategy. The initiative also seeks to counter satellite hacking, signal jamming, and intelligence breaches that could threaten national sovereignty.
NASRDA further cautioned against the misuse of satellite data by non-state actors and foreign entities, warning that such data could be exploited for surveillance or to coordinate criminal activities within the country.
This development comes amid an alarming rise in violence across Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 600,000 Nigerians lost their lives to insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024. The northwest region recorded the highest number of deaths at 206,030, followed by the northeast with 188,992. The southwest saw the fewest fatalities, totaling 15,693.
The NBS also reported that more than 2.2m Nigerians were kidnapped during the same period, with a staggering N2.23tn (approximately $1.44bn) paid in ransom.