The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has raised fresh alarm over Nigeria’s deepening security vulnerabilities, revealing that terrorist groups operating within the country have migrated from regular mobile-phone networks to satellite-based communication systems. The revelation signals a troubling technological shift among criminal networks and poses new challenges for national security operations.
NASRDA’s Director-General, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, disclosed this development on Friday during an interview on Channels Television. He explained that security agencies can no longer rely on shutting down mobile networks to disrupt communication during military operations because many terror groups have adopted advanced satellite platforms that bypass terrestrial GSM systems.
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According to Adepoju, the long-standing tactic of restricting mobile networks—implemented in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna during counter-insurgency operations—has lost its effectiveness. Terrorists, he said, are now communicating through satellite links that cannot be easily intercepted or disabled, making monitoring efforts more complex.
He further clarified that many Nigerians have misconceptions about the capabilities of the country’s existing satellites. Most of Nigeria’s current space assets, he explained, are designed for imaging rather than real-time surveillance. These satellites capture high-resolution photos but do not provide live video feeds or continuous monitoring, limiting their usefulness during fast-moving security incidents.
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Adepoju added that Nigeria currently operates only two functional satellites—one communications satellite and one earth-observation satellite. Due to their orbital paths, these satellites take an average of three days to revisit the same location, a delay that significantly undermines real-time intelligence gathering for military and law-enforcement agencies.
He warned that without newer, more advanced satellites capable of rapid revisit cycles or continuous surveillance, the country will struggle to match the evolving technological capabilities of terrorist groups. He stressed that modern warfare and counterterrorism efforts require space-based intelligence tools that deliver timely and actionable data.
In response to these growing threats, Adepoju revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved plans for a new satellite constellation. The proposed system aims to reduce the revisit time from several days to as little as four to six hours, depending on satellite positioning, thereby improving Nigeria’s capacity for near real-time monitoring of high-risk areas.
NASRDA has also entered into a technical partnership with a U.S.-based company that operates nearly 300 satellites globally. The collaboration is expected to give Nigerian security agencies access to advanced signal-analytics tools capable of detecting abnormal communication patterns, although the agency is still awaiting necessary funding to activate the platform fully.
Adepoju emphasized that Nigeria must adopt a research-driven, technologically grounded security strategy to combat modern threats. He noted that relying solely on traditional ground operations without integrating advanced space-based tools would leave the country at a disadvantage against increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
He concluded by calling for urgent investment in national space infrastructure, increased funding for satellite deployment, and stronger collaboration between security agencies and space technology experts. According to him, only a comprehensive, technology-enabled approach can effectively counter the evolving methods used by terrorists and safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
