‘Naira devaluation hampering digital satellite upgrade’

Naira devaluation is hampering Nigeria’s digital satellite upgrade, making the country to rely on Spanish satellite system for up-to-date information. This was revealed at a workshop organised to sensitise COSPAS-SARSAT beacon users in Nigeria.

The workshop held at the Aircraft Maintenance Workshop, NAF Base, Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, Lagos. Themed: ‘Keeping Abreast with Emerging Technology’, the programme was attended by stakeholders from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), federal and state fire services, the Nigerian Airforce, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDS), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and others.

COSPAS-SARSAT system was described as a vital component of Nigeria’s safety infrastructure, providing timely distress alerts. The workshop covered the overview of COSPAS-SARSAT System, the importance of COSPAS-SARSAT beacons in emergencies, proper installation, testing and maintenance of beacons, understanding false alerts and how to prevent them and best practices for beacon use and emergency procedures.

Speakers at the programme shared their insights and experiences on the topics discussed and had interactive sessions to encourage collaboration among participants.

Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Kennedy Metaluwo, who represented the Director-General (DG) NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the programme was to sensitise stakeholders on the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite programme.

He said the COSPAS-SARSAT system is a vital component of Nigeria’s safety infrastructure, providing distress alert services to those in need.

On Nigeria’s satellite programme, he said: “Nigeria is up to date even though we are trying to update our satellite to digital; we are still working with the Spanish satellite system where we still get up-to-date information. Work on that of Nigeria is in progress. There are a few challenges, but I’m sure the project will be completed early next year.”