By Daniel Abia

The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is buzzing with excitement as they officially commission the country’s first commercial Mobile Drone Operations Command Centre (MDOC). This game-changer was developed by Arco Worldwide Services (AWS) in partnership with NLNG, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s aerospace tech capabilities.  

The MDOC, a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, is a climate-controlled command hub with integrated green energy and a triple-monitor monitoring panel. It enables real-time aerial surveillance of pipelines, detecting encroachment and pipeline vandalisation in remote areas.  

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Managing Director of Arco Worldwide  Services, Mr. Okosubide Mozimo while commending NLNG for its forward-thinking support, traced the evolution of the project, noting that AWS’s aviation subsidiary, Arco Aviation Academy (AAA), has moved aggressively to close the gap in drone training and operations since 2025.

He explained that Arco began working with NLNG in 2020, when drone operations were largely nomadic.  “Our teams had to move from one location to another, manually setting up ground control stations every day. This process took up to 90 minutes each morning. Fatigue would set in, equipment suffered wear and tear, and overall efficiency was affected,” Mozimo said.  

Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Arco Worldwide Services, Mrs. Ann Temidara, expressed delight over the partnership, describing the project as a breakthrough for the Nigerian drone ecosystem.  

“We are proud to be launching Nigeria’s first locally integrated mobile Ground Control System,” she said. “While the aerial platforms are procured globally, the customization, structural integration, and operational optimization were performed entirely by Nigerian engineers to suit our specific environmental and service requirements.”  

Providing technical insight, the Chief Technical Officer of Arco Worldwide Services,  Mr. Sunday Idajili, explained that the MDOC was designed to solve the ‘Last Mile’ connectivity gap.  

“This system enables real-time aerial surveillance of pipelines with uninterrupted  real-time video feeds, streamed via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems to ensure  stability even in remote areas,” Idajili said, adding that the command centre operates on green energy.  

NLNG’s General Manager, Corporate Services, Engr. Ekeinde Ohiwerei, praised the project as a testament to Nigerian Content commitment.