By Bavoriat Clara
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Retired General Christopher Musa has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to enhance space-based support for national security operations.
The Minister gave the assurance when a delegation from NASRDA, led by its Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Matthew O. Adepoju, paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, the Minister emphasized that proactive and intelligence-driven operations remain critical to defeating terrorism, banditry and trans-border crimes across the country.
General Musa noted that satellite-enabled surveillance, radar imaging and signal analytics would significantly improve situational awareness, help identify criminal routes and hideouts, and provide stronger operational support to troops on the frontline.
He stressed the need for closer synergy between NASRDA and the Defence Space Administration to ensure seamless integration of space assets into military operations.
Earlier, the NASRDA Director General highlighted Nigeria’s existing space capabilities and ongoing international collaborations. He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the procurement process for additional satellites, including radar systems, to further strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
Dr Adepoju added that the Agency has presented new concepts for enhanced border surveillance and real-time intelligence support aimed at improving environmental awareness and operational effectiveness.
Both parties agreed to harmonize efforts, eliminate duplication of mandates and develop a coordinated deployment framework to maximize outcomes in national security operations.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to accelerate collaboration and leverage space-based innovations to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, and the Director, Joint Services Department, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi.
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