By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has expressed readiness to partner with Shell Companies in Nigeria by deploying its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to help secure the companies’ oil and gas pipelines as well as other critical oil installations in the Niger Delta.
This is to ensure, that the maritime domain is safe for social and economic activities by preventing oil-theft, pipeline vandalism, militancy, kidnapping and other forms of economic sabotage thereby helping to sustain the economic lifeline of Nigeria.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this while playing host to the Managing Director and Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Osagie Okunbor at the Headquarters NAF Abuja.
Air Marshal Abubakar noted that, over the years, the NAF had been actively involved in the security of oil pipelines, protection of critical national assets and general safety of the maritime environment.
According to him, the recent development of the capability to produce UAVs had enabled the NAF to induct an operational drone named TSAIGUMI. He further explained that the newly inducted UAV, which has day and night capability, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km.
“The TSAIGUMI could also be used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties”, the CAS added.
Speaking further, the CAS stated that the NAF was ready to partner with Shell Companies in Nigeria to produce more of the TSAIGUMI UAV, an option that would be more cost effective than importing drones from other countries.
He said this would help develop local content as well as save more foreign exchange for the country. “Accordingly, the Service would be willing to send experts to Shell to make presentation on the capabilities of the TSAIGUMI UAV and explore mutually beneficial ways to better secure Shell facilities while further developing the NAF’s UAV capability”, Air Marshal Abubakar said.
The CAS also informed the visiting Managing Director about the agreement with the Kaduna State Government, which was to acquire UAVs for the NAF to help operate towards further securing the State. He added that the replication of such an arrangement with the Shell Companies Nigeria would enhance the security of the Companies’ facilities.
The CAS then stated that the NAF would willingly deploy its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft for surveillance whenever the Company requested for it.
In his remarks, the Managing Director thanked the NAF for its continuous support, which had spanned many decades. According to him, the efforts of the NAF and other security agencies have made the continuous existence of peace and investment friendly environment possible in the Southern part of Nigeria.
He noted that the deployment of UAVs by the NAF would indeed further help to secure oil facilities and other crucial economic assets in the area.
Mr Osagie thanked the CAS for granting him audience and for the readiness of the NAF to continue providing security to ensure the sustenance of economic activities in the Niger Delta, in particular, and Nigeria, in general.
It is worthy to note that the NAF has played vital roles in the restoration of peace in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. It is currently actively involved in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast, where it launched Operation THUNDER STRIKE against the Boko Haram insurgents a few days ago.
