Enhancing National Security Through Technology

Strengthening national security through technology
Written by Mukhtar Yao Madobe
It is clear that the growing security challenges in Nigeria have apparently continued to defy all measures, and thus have proven difficult to contain. This therefore necessitated the need to use other alternative approaches as a means of overcoming this brutal hydride-headed problem.
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR) continues across all sectors of the humanities, the prolific role of technology in addressing insecurity in this digital age cannot be underestimated. The current revolution is primarily characterized by digitization and automation – just as we see it in robotic technology.
This IR has led over the years to the development and advancement of several technological innovations that can be used to stem the rising tide of security challenges in Nigeria. Notable among them are the following; Artificial intelligence, robotics (AIR), drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), and others.
In particular, information technology has continued to play an important role in enhancing national security against future cyber threats and attacks. It can help countries identify potential threats, easily share information, and protect mechanisms in them.
Although Nigeria has taken bold steps to settle its issues of insecurity by traditional security agencies through combative or physical, non-kinetic or soft approach, there are still many outstanding issues that limit the peaceful coexistence of the country on the one hand. On the other hand, it will be the adoption of emerging technologies through accurate mapping of contiguous regions using geospatial science and technology such as satellite remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) on the other hand.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be a driver of national security through the use of GPS technology, social networking tools, virtual emergency operations centers, use of CCTV cameras, intelligent surveillance, data mining, and database tracking among others.
Meanwhile, the use of drones to do surveillance and collect relevant information has become a regular occurrence in the security industries. To this end, the country’s leading technology agency, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been involved in putting a lot of effort into providing digital solutions to Nigeria’s security challenge.
The National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a branch of the agency, promotes the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution by researching and developing technologies such as drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, etc. as a real tool in the fight against national insecurity.
With the emergence of artificial intelligence, robotic vehicles, and drones among many other high-tech innovations in fighting war, it is seen that the use of technology in combating insecurity in the country cannot be overstated.
It is impossible for security professionals to monitor all parts of a building at all times. Having a unified system that includes cameras, alarms, detectors and analysis tools means that these individuals can be notified immediately in the event of an incident requiring their attention.
For this purpose, CCTV cameras can be installed in strategic locations and monitored appropriately by a designated individual from a central platform. Through this, early warning signals can be detected and proactive measures can be quickly implemented to neutralize any potential incoming threats.
It is pertinent to understand that technological advances are reshaping global security capabilities, from enhancing the way we monitor our borders to helping mitigate insecurity and the impact of natural disasters. Just a few generations ago, drones were confined to the pages of science fiction and artificial intelligence seemed years in the future. Today, cutting-edge technologies are changing every aspect of our daily lives.
Technology helps mitigate security threats in various ways. These include but are not limited to areas such as cybersecurity, drone technology, the use of artificial intelligence to interpret satellite images, artificial intelligence video surveillance, and Internet of Things connectivity.
Autonomous drones can be hovered around locations suspected of being invaded by criminal elements for effective surveillance in order to gather intelligence and later sent to the database for analysis. And while its use often raises privacy concerns, it is still a useful force to reckon with in the fields of security and defense.
For example, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ CoasTitan system in South Asia harnesses the power of autonomous air and sea vehicles to protect against coastal threats, including terrorism, illegal immigration, smuggling, pirates and illegal fishing.
Nigeria’s 2019 National Security Strategy, a document published by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), Papagana Monguno, noted that “the evolving phenomenon in airspace security is the proliferation of drones that pose safety challenges such as air attacks and medium-air collisions with manned aircraft. and security challenges such as violating airspace, penetrating restricted skies, threatening the security of VIPs, terrorism and espionage.”
As we embrace the digital world, new types of crime become inevitable. Whereas traditional cybersecurity defenses include monitoring, analysis, program management, and network security designed primarily for IT systems, the latest developments are more proactive and designed for operational technology systems.
Security experts have long been able to make use of satellite imagery to aid in prevention and response efforts. Now, with the availability and increasing quality of these images, they provide an even more valuable resource for security and disaster relief operations. When a flood occurs, affected areas can be quickly mapped together, allowing resources to be directed appropriately. Other uses include border security or in monitoring industrial trends.
In a similar way, today’s self-surveillance cameras eliminate humans’ need for software that has the ability to detect motion and recognize individual faces, even in the dark.
The ever-increasing connectivity of the Internet of Things has both positive and negative implications for security. On the other hand, a large number of information can be harvested and processed in a short period of time. Meanwhile, the increased flow of information between devices exposes new threats and opportunities for interception.
Therefore, it is clear that technology has been able to provide us with all the necessary software and hardware to address all kinds of security threats in the country. Thus, efforts should be directed towards creating an enabling environment where these developments can be harnessed and leveraged effectively to our advantage.
Mukhtar clerk in the emergency team with emergency summary