Shettima Hails Space X Contributions To Nigeria’s Emergency, Disaster Response

•As largest satellite internet constellation donates specialised communication gadgets to NEMA

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has hailed the donation of specialised communication equipment to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by renown satellite internet service provider, Starlink.

According to him, Nigeria’s partnership with Space X’s Starlink, one of the world’s largest satellite internet constellations, in enhancing emergency and disaster management in Nigeria is a collaboration that would improve NEMA’s response time and effective coordination, which he noted, “is vital in emergency interventions in the country”.

Shettima disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday when he received in audience, a delegation comprising the technical team from NEMA and Space X led by the Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar at the State House, Abuja.

The Vice President emphasised that communication is the essence of humanity and during the period of emergencies and flood disasters, partnerships with Starlink can come in handy.

While commending the efforts of NEMA, Shettima assured the management of Space X of the efficient and effective use of donated equipment by the staff of the agency at designated stations across the country.

Earlier, Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Umar thanked the tech giant for the donation of the high-speed, reliable satellite internet hardware and data plans to support emergency response and disaster management operations across Nigeria.

She said the communication gadgets comprising 91 standard and mini boxes will greatly address some of the critical challenges faced by NEMA in managing emergency in underserved or hard-to-reach areas across the country.

Umar disclosed that the agency will deploy some of the facilities to 50 designated flashpoints across the country, while its command-and-control centre will be re-equipped to improve its emergency intervention operations in the country.

Also speaking, representative of Space X Starlink, Mr Peter Kroetger, commended Nigeria for its effective disaster preparedness and management despite challenges related to technology adoption and integration.

He expressed satisfaction with the structure at NEMA for disaster preparedness and emergency management, which, he noted, is key in the deployment of the Space X technology.