THE DUAL ROLE OF NIGERIAN EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITES AS IT RELATES TO HEALTH AND NATIONAL SECURITY

摘要

Dual use is a term often used in politics and diplomacy to refer to a technology which is used for both peaceful andmilitary purposes. It can also refer to any technology which can satisfy more than one goal at any given time. EarthObservation using Space Technologies has a dual role which is increasingly becoming dynamic in both military andcivilian use, for example in Security and Health related purposes. The National Space Research and DevelopmentAgency has successfully used its earth observation satellite for both Security and Health related exercises. Under the PanAfrican Tsetse and Trypanomosiasis Campaign, (PATTEC), Nigeria launched Its Tsetse and Trypanomosiasiseradication in Nov 2011 using its Earth Observation Satellite , likewise Surveillance of both terrorist activities and ourporous border are being undertaken using Nigerian Satellites. This paper highlights the ways in which Nigeria has beenable to deploy its Space Assets for both Civilian and unclassified Homeland Security related applications.