The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) have agreed to deploy high-tech remote sensing applications to improve environmental sustainability.
Director-General of NESREA, Dr Lawrence Anukam, said the technical cooperation between the agencies would utilize their strengths and exposure to improve and address environmental issues across the country.
Anukam who stated this in a meeting between the agencies said, in order to address the level of pollutants and others, the use of remote sensing applications would be of immense help, especially in environmental data collection and sharing, tracking of trans-boundary crimes, satellite imaging of Nigeria, as well as fighting environmental crimes.
“We want to develop real time information system through the use of digitalized maps. This would enable us to zoom into any part of Nigeria to know what is going on there,” he said.
He further explained that the use of remote sensing was key, especially satellite imaging which produced near accurate specification of data needed for development saying, “This is what makes it easier for governments to achieve on their mandate.
“We will leave no stone unturned to achieve our desired objective and mandate for Nigerians to have a cleaner environment to live in,” he said.
The Director General of NASRDA, Professor Saidu Onaido Mohammed, said the MOU was an opportunity to create the enabling environment for effective monitoring of environmental activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters and pollution control.