The Nigerian Navy's boosting of its drone fleet with 12 new Comstrac System Ovation drones would is not only a move towards modernizing the West African country's security framework in response to evolving threats but also enhances regional maritime security, Dr. Anne Abaho, an international relations and security studies lecturer at Nkumba University in Uganda, told Sputnik Africa.
She stressed that the world is transitioning away from traditional security tools; the expert emphasized the strategic and focused nature of Nigeria's development in unmanned aerial technology.
Despite concerns about potentially initiating an arms race in the region, she highlighted the country's proactive stance in tackling insecurity, particularly in the context of challenges related to natural resources and terrorism.
"First, the world is moving from ancient weapons of security like AK 47s – thanks to the changing face of security threats. A move towards UAV by Nigeria is strategic and focused despite the likelihood of increasing/creating an arms race in the region," Abaho told Sputnik Africa.
Noting the prevalence of insecurity amidst abundant resources, Dr. Abaho underscored the critical utility of drones in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and threat identification. She emphasized the significance of securing the Gulf of Guinea, highlighting piracy as a substantial threat to regional and international trade.
"Nigeria is faced with a series of insecurity amidst abundance – the question of oil and terrorism being key among the threats. The drones aid in intelligence, surveillance and threat identification," the expert said. "The gulf needs to be secured for the good of the region – piracy is a threat to trade regionally and affects international trade too."
In her assessment, Dr. Abaho emphasized that the enhanced surveillance capabilities provided by these drones will significantly improve the Navy's ability to monitor maritime security and identify potential threats. This, in turn, will facilitate a more efficient threat response and aid in countering elements such as terrorists, thereby contributing to a more secure maritime environment.