The first commercial Mobile Drone Operations Command Centre (MDOC) in Nigeria has been launched, marking a significant milestone in the application of advanced aerospace technology in infrastructure protection.
 
The facility, developed by Arco Worldwide Services (AWS) in partnership with NLNG, was produced for enhanced surveillance and infrastructure monitoring.
  
It was unveiled at the NLNG Corporate Head Office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The project underscores Nigeria’s growing capacity to deliver aviation and engineering solutions driven by indigenous expertise.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Arco Worldwide Services, Okosubide Mozimo, commended NLNG for its support and traced the evolution of the initiative. He noted that since 2025, Arco’s aviation subsidiary, Arco Aviation Academy (AAA), has intensified efforts to bridge gaps in drone training and operations in Nigeria.
 
Mozimo explained that Arco began drone operations with NLNG in 2020, at a time when field deployments were largely manual and mobile in a rudimentary sense.
  
“Our teams had to move from one location to another, manually setting up ground control stations daily. This process took up to 90 minutes each morning. Fatigue set in, equipment suffered wear and tear, and overall efficiency was affected,” he said.
  
The operational limitations, he added, led to the conceptualisation and development of the MDOC.
  
He described the MDOC as a fully customised Mercedes-Benz Sprinter retrofitted into a climate-controlled command hub. The vehicle is equipped with an in-built air conditioning system, integrated green-energy inverter systems and a triple-monitor display panel.
  
Chief Operating Officer of Arco Worldwide Services, Mrs Ann Temidara, described the initiative as a breakthrough for Nigeria’s drone ecosystem.
  
“We are proud to be launching Nigeria’s first locally integrated mobile Ground Control System,” she said. “While the aerial platforms are sourced globally, the customisation, structural integration and operational optimisation were carried out entirely by Nigerian engineers to meet our environmental and service requirements.”
  
Providing further technical details, Chief Technical Officer of AWS, Sunday Idajili, said the MDOC was designed to address the “last mile” connectivity challenge often encountered in remote operations.
  
“This system enables real-time aerial surveillance of pipelines with uninterrupted video feeds streamed via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems to ensure stability, even in remote areas,” he said.
  
According to him, the vehicle accommodates a five-man crew and deploys the Sky Whale Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone system, which has a flight endurance of up to three hours and an operational range of 60 kilometres.
  
He also disclosed that the command centre operates on green energy through the integration of high-capacity solar panels, inverter systems and energy-efficient ground support equipment.
  
Commissioning the system on behalf of NLNG, the General Manager, Corporate Services, Ekeinde Ohiwerei, described the development as a reflection of the company’s commitment to Nigerian Content and local capacity development.
  
“Arco has been a dependable partner, and this project shows they are setting new standards in the industry,” Ohiwerei said.