NASRDA Mulls Geo-Stationary Satellite to Fight Maritime Insecurity

National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has said that 90% of security challenges facing the maritime sector in Nigeria could be effectively addressed by Geo-Stationary Satellite.

Dr Mathew Adepoju, new director general of the Space and Research Agency, stated this in Abuja, during his screening for confirmation of his appointment by the Senate Committee on Innovation, Science and Technology.

While responding to questions by the lawmakers, Adepoju also lamented the non-patronage of home-grown technology in the country by relevant authorities and Nigerians.

He told the Committee chaired by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central), that the Geo-Stationary Satellite, if embraced by all stakeholders in the maritime sector, would fill in the gap for the needed Maritime Domain Awareness for all manner of planned crimes and possibility of nipping them in the bud.

“For us at NASRDA, we are ready to collaborate and synergize with critical stakeholders in the maritime sector on the need to curb all manner of crimes in the sector.

He said: “The most important device to use is Geo-Stationary Satellite, which would help to give the required Maritime Domain Awareness for the various key players through synthetical factor reading.

“For effective use of the Geo – Stationary Satellite, cooperation and synergy are already being worked on between us and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Satellite System ( NigComSat), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) etc.”

He however, lamented that home-grown technologies put forward through innovations and inventions, were seldomly patronized by relevant authorities and Nigerians.

“We have inbuilt capacity at NASRDA but the culture of not patronizing ourselves in Nigeria, make results from such capacities, uncelebrated.

“We can work together with the security agencies through our home grown solution which is not patronize.

“Aside that, the problem of acute shortage of office space for about 70 % of NASRDA staff, is also inhibiting them from giving their best because out of 5, 200 staff , less than 30% has office space,” he lamented.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, told the nominee , that when confirmed by the Senate as substantive Director General of NASRDA, he should make the Space Center, a Centre of Excellence.

“Go for talent hunting because we have not seen much in the area of human development. Develop in-house capacity. Pay attention to staff development,” he said.