In an effort to enhance strategies for national security, the Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Halilu Shaba, has emphasized the importance of effective coordination of collaborative processes to accelerate the development of homegrown technological solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
He made the remarks while playing host to a delegation from the Nigerian Army at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Shaba who expressed gratitude to the visiting team over the success in the fight against insecurity, stated that most collaborations are not implemented due to lack of proper coordination and feedback mechanisms, deployed during the process.
He noted that many organizations tend to be territorial about their activities but praised the Nigerian Army for their promptness in partnering with the Space Agency, adding that there is need for a credible feedback mechanism to ensure the successful fruition of the partnership.
The NASRDA Helmsman while highlighting the importance of intelligence gathering and data sharing, explained that collaborations fail if both parties do not work together on common areas of interests in disaster management.
He advocated the need for data acquisition by the Military from the Space Agency, to cushion the effects of crises.
The Director General also emphasized the importance of collaborating closely with the end users of the homegrown technological solutions being developed to ensure they achieve the intended impact.
He affirmed that NASRDA is always willing to assist the military, especially in providing technology and data relevant to terrain analysis and logistics for the betterment of the nation.
In his remarks, the head of the delegation from the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Major General Zakari Abubakar, conveyed the compliments of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, adding that Nigerian Army is on a mission to deliberate with NASRDA on viable, implementable strategies that the Army could exploit in the fight against insecurity.
Maj. Gen. Abubakar explained that the Chief of Army Staff has tasked the Department of Transformation and Innovation of the Army to liaise with the Space Agency towards realization of the use of technology in the Nigerian Army.
He added that the collaboration is based on the directive of the National Assembly on the need to adopt home-grown indigenous technological solutions and incorporate them into the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
According to him, NASRDA was identified as one of the viable agencies saddled with the responsibility of providing intelligence gathering, surveillance and effective communication, which are strategic to the Army’s fight against insecurity.
Maj. Gen Abubakar, however, thanked the Director General and his team for the warm reception and promised to cooperate with the Agency in areas of mutual interest for the benefit of Nigerians. Below are some sights from the event.
Ninma Yacim
Media and Corporate Communications
