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Nigeria Should Rely More on Technology to Tackle Security Challenges


Nigeria Should Rely More on Technology to Tackle Security Challenges

-FUTA Don

To effectively tackle the recurring and ravaging insecurity in Nigeria, a Professor of Remote Sensing  and GeoInformatics and Director, Centre for Space Research and Application (CESRA) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Joseph Akinyede has recommended the deployment of advanced technologies especially  Remote Sensing Technology (RST). He said the use of images/data from Satellites, Global Navigational Satellite System (Global Positioning System (GPS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones, communication infrastructures and Geographic Information System (GIS) will give security agencies critical advantages in the fight against bandits and other forms of insecurity. Professor Akinyede spoke at the 3rd Distinguished Lecture in honour of Engineer Brigadier General (Rtd) M.O. Agu (FNSE) as the Distinguished Lecturer on the topic Remote Sensing Technology and National Security.

Reviewing the increase in incessant security challenges globally since September 2001 at the  World  Trade Centre in the United States of America and those in Nigeria ranging from Niger Delta crisis to killings associated with herdsmen, kidnapping for money or ritual killings, ethnic cleansing, maritime-related piracy, cybercrimes, advance fee fraud, human/material trafficking and endemic acts of corruption, he said the situation deserves concerted efforts with the use of technology as pivotal. He said  Nigeria is   waking  up to the realization of the need to mobilize resources: financial, human and technological, to address the diverse issues of national  insecurities.

In view of this, he said Satellites and drones are eyes in the air to monitor the environment and also collect geospatial data for mapping crime hotspots, surveillance and security intelligence. He also called for awareness on the part of Nigerian scientists and engineers to be awaken to proffering solution to the nation’s security challenges.