The director-general of the State Security Services (SSS), Adeola Ajayi, said on Monday that the service remains resolved to deploy geospatial intelligence solutions to address national security challenges.

Mr Ajayi, represented by the National Institute for Security Studies faculty member Patrick Eneji, said this at the training on Leadership Course in Data Mining and Geospatial Intelligence in Abuja.

The course was organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC) and hosted by the Defence Space Administration (DSA).

Mr Ajayi said the service, under his leadership, had maintained an operational growth to quickly reduce threats of espionage and embezzlement and direct and location analysis of threat domains.

He said the SSS had also enhanced the future number of intelligence capabilities to drive a comprehensive regional picture on questions, groups, or subjects of security interest.

According to him, the open source intelligence department and other big data-driven sections of the service are also equipped with appropriate data mining tools that unravel complex trends, patterns, and correlations on security fractures.

The SSS boss said the course was important in finding solutions to the myriad of security challenges that required technology deployment to proactively address them.

Mr Ajayi said, “We live in a world driven by data; the ability to extract meaningful data for security and intelligence operations need not be overemphasised.

“This is because it is a necessity, especially at the strategic leadership level, where decisions have far-reaching implications.

“At this core, data mining is a process of discovering patterns, correlations, and insights with large data sets using computational techniques.

“I make bold to state that Nigeria is witnessing a modest integration of these technological innovations in different facets and nationalities amid limiting challenges of data quality.’’

He also said harmonisation, funding, and lack of skilled professionals, among others, were also being addressed.

“I believe that this training will provide a platform for participants to address the challenges they face in the effective deployment of geospatial technology and data mining for secure economic development,” the DG added.

(NAN)