Army seeks PTDF partnership to produce drones locally

The Nigerian Army has sought a strategic partnership with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund to train its personnel in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and support local production of drones for security operations.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, made the request during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Prof Shuaibu Aliyu, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Shaibu said developing indigenous expertise in drone design, production, operation and maintenance had become necessary as the military confronted terrorism, insurgency and banditry across the country.

He said the partnership would also reduce the number of Nigerian military personnel sent abroad for specialised training and help develop a critical mass of professionals capable of supporting indigenous UAV companies.

The COAS said, “We are at a critical moment in our history whereby science and technology are critical aspects of our own personal skill development and to assist in solving contemporary security situations. Issues of terrorism, insurgency, banditry are still plaguing the country, and we are looking forward to developing critical skills for the development of UAVs and drone technology to assist in building and domesticating that skill within the country and to reduce the number of personnel sent outside the country.”

He added, “I am making this request for some of our officers because as we strive to build the critical mass of those skills, to assist our sisters in establishing indigenous companies for the development of UAVs systems, those critical mass of skilled professionals are necessary.”

Shaibu also sought further PTDF intervention in the development and upgrading of Nigerian Army command secondary schools, describing education as an important welfare issue for military personnel and their families.

He said, “For our own personnel as well, this strategic partnership and upgrading and equipping of our own secondary schools will go a long way in further discovering our own companies to assist in also contributing to national development.”

Responding, the PTDF Executive Secretary said the Fund was ready to deepen its existing relationship with the Nigerian military in education, skills development and technology.

Aliyu said PTDF was already sponsoring scholars at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, under its In-Country Scholarship Scheme.

He added that Government Day Secondary School, Army Barracks, Yola, Adamawa State, was also among beneficiaries of the Fund’s STEM programme.

On the Army’s proposed Command Science and Technical College, Ankpa, Kogi State, the PTDF boss said the institution’s focus on science, technology, engineering, ICT and technical education aligned with the Fund’s mandate.

He said, “In recognition of this alignment, and within the framework of PTDF’s mandate and intervention programmes, the Fund is pleased to support this initiative by establishing an ICT centre, laying a critical foundation for digital literacy and technology-driven learning among the College’s students.”