President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the armed forces of Nigeria to continue to break new grounds and remain in the forefront of mainstreaming technological and other initiatives to facilitate the provision of a safe, secure and peaceful environment for Nigeria's.
Buhari gave the charge while commissioning the Phase One of the Secure and Defence Communication Network, code named "Giwa 2 Project" Network Operating Centre, Mogadishu Cantonment Phase One, in Abuja.
The Commissioning of GIWA 2 Project took place today 2nd May 2023 after completion of Phase 1 which involved the construction of the core network, data centre and military command centre with all domiciled at Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
SpyeTV News report that this is in a quest to enhance collaboration, between defense, intelligence and security community and to deny criminal elements, perpetrators of insecurity across Nigeria.
Commissioning the GIWA 2 project, the President said its to enhance troops effectiveness and operational efficiency towards addressing current, emerging and future security threats bedeviling the country.
In his remarks, President Buhari noted that the GIWA 2 project initiatives aligned with some of the main focus areas of the federal government, namely security, economy, progression and technology development.
He said, these benefits of the GIWA 2 project informed the timely support of the federal government's Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that center is commission as one of the proud landmarks and enduring achievements of the armed forces on Nigeria under his administration.
"It is evident from what we are witnessing here today that the GIWA 2 infrastructure designed to stand the test of time and deliver on its mandate. Additionally, it is a good platform to achieve the intended powers telephony across the country.
President Buhari also directed the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to support the Defence Headquarters in the project, which could impact Rural Telephony.
“To this end, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is to support the Defence Headquarters in ensuring that the infrastructure available for Rural Telephony is fully deployed for the attainment of GIWA 2 Project deliverables. The Federal Government shall support the full actualisation of the other phases of the GIWA 2 Project,’’ he added.
Buhari commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, other Service Chiefs, and stakeholders for the completion of Phase 1 of a 4-phased rollout plan of GIWA 2 Project, which is one of the landmark project of his Administration that is conceptualization and remarkable work.
In his remarks, the minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) ably represented by the Permanent Secretary Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana noted that the landmark achievement National security communication Network is the remarkable breakthrough in the communication advancement of the armed forces of Nigeria. The network has the capacity of providing voice, video, date and other value added services to the armed forces location in and outside Abuja.
He said the GIWA Project which commences in July 2021,will greatly assist in the conduct of operation, promotion and collaboration and ultimately promote national security imperatives.
In his address, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor said, "There is no gain saying that communications has been key to military command and control all through the ages. The real bone of contention is the level of control military commanders have over their own communications or those of their adversaries.
He stressed that "It is to this contention that the entire fields of electronic warfare, information warfare and cyber warfare all relate. Every commander would wish to have both technical and operational control of his own communications, as well as the capacity to influence those of his adversary. And although ambitious, this wish is justified world-over, despite the high financial costs and technical manpower implications."
"It is pertinent to state unequivocally that GIWA 2 Project could be used to salvage some of the moribund infrastructure of the Federal Government that are deployed for nationwide Rural Telephony Project. This is borne out of the fact that there are valuable network equipment on the Rural Telephony Project that have relevance and application to this Giwa 2 Project. The takeover of such network facilities would not only eliminate wastage, but also facilitate rapid expansion of the GIWA 2 Project at reduced cost.
"Additionally, this network possesses critical features such as network segmentation, automatic real time location, reporting and overriding push-to-talk call that distinguishes it from the usual public telecommunications networks. These features have the potential of enhancing command and control as well as intelligence gathering and sharing amongst other benefits to own activities." he said.
He noted that the Phase 1 comprise deployment of a few base stations and hand-held terminals in Maiduguri and Abuja, in addition to other ancillary devices that ensured current level of functionality. In addition to being a highly secure telecommunications network that is totally controlled by the Nigerian Military, some of the unique capabilities and potentials that distinguish GIWA 2 from other public telecommunications networks are secured end- to-end real-time video and data sharing, real- time incident reporting, high network resilience, multi-level network redundancy and high capacity with better Quality of Service (QoS), amongst others.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele congratulates the Chief or Defence Staff and other services and all personnel of the armed forces as they continue to work assiduously towards enhancing the national security.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Communications and Digital economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami pledges to collaborate and support the military in the project, which could impact Rural Telephony.
The Managing Director Fixxers Telecomms Limited, Major General Felix Agugo (Rtd) the essence of the GIWA 2 Project is very clear because every commander would wish to have both technical and operational control of his own communications, as well as the capacity to influence those of his adversary and this project will provide short, long, medium range, combat communications for the military and for other security agencies because the network is capable of being segmented.
Following years of planning and consideration of various funding/operating models, DHQ in partnership with Fixxers Telecommunications Limited began establishing the SNDCN (codenamed GIWA 2) infrastructure in May 2021 and later completed the Phase 1 of the GIWA Project which is a good platform to achieve the intended powers telephony across the country.