The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has described the joint surveillance facility between the Ministries of ICT and of Defence and Veterans Affairs as critical to Namibia's national security.

Theofelus made the remarks during a visit to the facility, which provides surveillance over Namibian waters and airspace to monitor movements by sea and air.

She said the Exploration Radio Electric Center plays a vital role in protecting national systems against cyber threats, revealing that Namibia records more than two million cyber attacks every year.

She emphasised that the growing number of cyber threats highlights the urgent need for more trained cyber defence specialists to safeguard the country's digital infrastructure alongside its physical borders.

“That's where we need to pivot our investment so that we have the amount of training and the amount of research we have to do so that we have the necessary capacities. It is one thing to know the threat is there, and it is another to know how to best combat it.”

Chief of Naval Staff Intelligence from the Ministry of Defence, Navy Captain Leonard Uuguanga, confirmed that the facility forms part of broader efforts to modernise surveillance and national security infrastructure.

“In the phase of cyber surveillance threats and electronic warfare, this centre is not optional, but it is imperative that we guard and surveil and monitor all vessels that are entering our space, on our water, and also aircraft that are entering from the sea.”

Uuguanga further said the facility is currently undergoing renovations and will soon be officially inaugurated.

Once completed, it will significantly strengthen national security through technology, skills development, and inter-ministerial cooperation.