According to reports from the Defense News Nigeria, Air Vice Marshall Ayo Jolasinmi, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, announced during a courtesy call with the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), in Abuja, that Nigeria will launch satellites II & III, successors to DELSAT-1, as part of a constellation of five satellites planned to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian armed forces against insecurity.

In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria inaugurated DELSAT-1 to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian armed forces against insecurity and elevate the country’s strategies to respond to identified threats to the nation’s interests. In addition, DELSAT-1 aids the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) in ensuring public safety through the established implementation strategy, Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare and Implement (FSIPI).

In a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, Air Vice Marshall Ayo Jolasinmi stated that the Defence Space Administration (DSA) is better positioned to use space-based services and technologies with the launch of DelSat-1 while satellites II & III will launch soon.

While addressing the new management of the DSA, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), challenged the security agency to raise the bar of technological advancement in tackling national insecurity for peace and security in Nigeria. In addition, he encouraged the DSA to utilise space-based technologies and technological innovations to participate with other countries with advanced technologies globally.

Furthermore, the launch of satellites II & III will significantly contribute to mitigating hostilities in Nigeria and accelerating growth within multiple sectors for socio-economic development.