The EIB Stractoc Limited, a Nigerian technology and business group, has showcased cutting-edge facilities and technologies designed to support the Nigerian Armed Forces in combating insecurity.

The EIB Group chairman, Bright Echefu, led a media tour of the company’s facilities and technologies at its various subsidiaries in Abuja on Wednesday, offering firsthand insights into the company’s operations, strategic growth drivers, and impact across industries.

Mr Echefu disclosed that the EIB special activities center provides a drone monitoring room, an intelligence fusion center, a digital forensic and tracking unit, a helipad, a jet fuel depot, a command and control vehicle, drones, and bombs to support the armed forces.

Mr Echefu explained that the center coordinates and assists critical operations of the armed forces in different parts of Nigeria, particularly in troubled areas like the North-East and North-West, through monitoring critical locations, providing satellite information, creating drones and bombs, among other activities.

Mr Echefu added that the company not only provides surveillance equipment for daytime operations, but also advanced electro-optical devices that can detect objects in shrubs and thermal imaging equipment that can track people by their body heat emissions at night.

However, regarding concerns about privacy and data protection during surveillance, Mr Echefu explained that all their operations are classified and therefore cannot be disclosed to the media.

Mr Echefu said, “The centre is the biggest intelligence station facility currently in the whole of Africa as it coordinates virtually a lot of operations in Nigeria, even down to the Lake Chad basin.”

Mr Echefu attributed the company’s success and growth to government support, stating that the Nigerian government “has recognised that there is a need to allow home-grown companies to thrive and has created policies to assist indigenous companies.”

Additionally, local manufacturing and patronage have saved Nigeria a significant amount of money, as there is no need to purchase products and services in dollars. Companies can now acquire these items and services in Naira.

He noted that Nigeria no longer relies on imported equipment, such as drones and bombs, to combat insecurity, but rather relies on local manufacturing companies to provide such equipment.

He revealed that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria has been producing bullets and has even started producing assault rifles.

Mr Echefu stated that there have been significant advancements in Nigeria’s military defence. He summarized key achievements, including the local manufacturing of drones, bombs, surveillance devices, and assault rifles, as well as improvements in intelligence gathering and operational efficiency, all of which contributed to more effective national security efforts.

Mr Echefu, while acknowledging the sacrifices of various soldiers who lost their lives trying to save Nigeria, emphasised the significant efforts and progress of the military forces. Additionally, Mr. Echefu noted that Nigeria currently has the capacity to end insurgency, given the significant investment by local companies in security equipment and ammunition.