Abuja, Nigeria – Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat), has announced that Nigeria is now utilizing its satellite assets to combat terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the country. Speaking at a media parley in Abuja ahead of the Nigerian Satellite Week, Egerton-Idehen highlighted the strategic deployment of satellite technology to enhance national security, marking a significant step towards addressing the country’s security challenges.
She explained that the agency is collaborating with key security bodies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defence Intelligence, and other national security agencies, to find lasting solutions to the nation’s security issues. While details of the satellite deployment were not disclosed for security reasons, Egerton-Idehen emphasized that these efforts are expected to contribute to the resolution of Nigeria’s security problems.
In addition to security, NigComSat’s mission for Satellite Week is to showcase the transformative potential of satellite technology in other critical areas, such as healthcare, education, and economic development. “We are focused on providing connectivity to remote areas and have deployed various technology platforms for different tasks,” she added.
The CEO also praised President Bola Tinubu for his “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which, alongside the support of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has helped advance the satellite communications sector. She assured that the procurement of Nigeria’s Satellite 2 is progressing and will be finalized soon.
Mrs. Egerton-Idehen also noted the substantial growth NigComSat has achieved under her leadership, increasing the number of TV channels on NigComSat from 45 to 105 and expanding its viewership to 7 million.
The upcoming Satellite Week, she said, will serve as a platform to unite stakeholders and explore the potential of satellite technology to drive Nigeria’s sustainable development across various sectors.