Nigeria’s upcoming NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B satellites will strengthen security operations by improving surveillance capabilities and providing more secure communications for troops operating in remote areas, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) has said.

NIGCOMSAT Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this during an interview on Sunrise Daily on Monday.

She said the satellites would provide technology that could support the tracking and surveillance of criminals, including in cases involving kidnapping.

“Satellite comes in, and we can track criminals with it,” Egerton-Idehen said, explaining that satellite imagery, digital mapping and other technologies could be used for surveillance.

She also highlighted communication difficulties faced by Nigeria’s armed forces during operations in remote locations, particularly where conventional communication channels are unavailable or vulnerable to compromise.

According to her, troops deployed to areas such as Sambisa Forest can face difficulties communicating with command and control centres.

“We have our armed forces or the people in the defence sector, and sometimes their biggest challenge is communication,” she said.

Egerton-Idehen said the new satellite capacity would provide stronger technical support for the defence sector and allow the technology to be deployed on a larger scale.

The NIGCOMSAT chief urged Nigerians to be patient with the delivery timeline for the projects, saying the satellites would have long-term benefits for the country’s security architecture and digital economy.

The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the purchase and deployment of NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B.

The satellites are also expected to expand internet access and improve connectivity across Nigeria, particularly in communities that remain underserved by existing digital infrastructure.

The development is part of efforts to ensure more Nigerians can participate in the digital economy while strengthening the country’s communications capacity.