The upcoming NIGCOMSAT-2A and 2B satellites will help Nigeria strengthen its fight against insecurity by improving surveillance capabilities and providing secure communication channels for troops operating in remote areas, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has said.
NIGCOMSAT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.
She said the satellites would provide advanced technological support to the country’s defence and security agencies, particularly in areas where communication challenges often hamper military operations.
According to her, security personnel deployed to difficult terrains such as the Sambisa Forest sometimes struggle to maintain contact with command and control centres.
“We have our armed forces or the people in the defence sector, and sometimes their biggest challenge is communication. You’re going to put them in Sambisa Forest to go and fight there, and there is no way to talk to command and control. That is very difficult,” she said.
Egerton-Idehen also explained that satellite technology could support surveillance and the tracking of criminals, including kidnappers, through imagery and other technological tools.
“Satellite comes in, and we can track criminals with it. Surveillance is part of the things you can do with satellites,” she said.
She added that existing communication channels could sometimes be insecure or compromised, potentially exposing troops and their operations.
“That’s what we want to enable our defence sector to do—and not just to enable them in a small way, but also at a large scale,” she said.
The NIGCOMSAT boss urged Nigerians to be patient with the delivery of the satellite projects, stressing that the investments would have long-term benefits for national security as well as Nigeria’s digital economy.
Earlier in August, NIGCOMSAT announced that the Federal Executive Council had approved the purchase and deployment of NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B.
The satellites are also expected to expand internet access and improve connectivity nationwide, particularly in underserved communities, helping to ensure broader participation in the digital economy.