The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed the Defence Space Administration to expand its satellite-based intelligence support to military operations in the North-West and North-Central regions.
The directive will extend space-enabled surveillance currently supporting Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East to Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Savannah Shield in the North-Central zone.
Oluyede gave the directive on Friday at the Defence Space Administration Day celebration in Abuja, where he stressed the importance of advanced space technology in strengthening military operations and improving intelligence gathering.
He said the expansion would enable troops operating across the affected regions to benefit from satellite imagery and other space-based intelligence capabilities to improve situational awareness and operational effectiveness.
The defence chief noted that the agency had been providing intelligence support to Operation Hadin Kai and would now extend the capability to other theatres facing security threats.
“As we speak now, they are supporting Operation Hadin Kai, and I have given instructions that they should extend that to Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Savannah Shield in the North-Central,” he said.
Oluyede highlighted the Defence Space Administration’s technological advancements, including the deployment of DARSAT-1, an Earth observation satellite designed to strengthen the country’s intelligence-gathering capabilities.
He also identified the development of specialised intelligence infrastructure and a modular Earth observation outpost at Joint Task Force headquarters as significant steps towards improving the processing of satellite data and accelerating decision-making by frontline commanders.
According to him, strengthening the country’s defence space capabilities requires sustained investment in indigenous technology, research and technical expertise.
He further emphasised the importance of the Defence Space School, alongside partnerships with Nigerian universities and defence industries, in developing local capacity and ensuring Nigeria maintains independent space-based defence capabilities.
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Earlier, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, Major General Philip Ilodibia, said modern warfare increasingly required real-time intelligence and effective coordination across land, maritime, air, cyberspace and outer-space operations.
Ilodibia said the DSA, established in October 2014, had continued to develop capabilities aimed at addressing operational gaps within the Armed Forces.
He called for stronger collaboration among the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as partnerships with the National Space Research and Development Agency and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), also stressed the growing importance of space technology in contemporary warfare.
Citing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other global security developments, Olonisakin said satellite surveillance and cyber defence had become essential components of modern military strategy.
He urged the military to sustain investment in advanced defence infrastructure and strengthen its technological capabilities to address evolving security threats.
The expansion of satellite intelligence support is expected to strengthen military surveillance and intelligence coordination across the designated operational theatres as the Armed Forces intensify efforts to tackle insecurity.