Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Introduction of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a Complement to Existing Security Apparatus on a Nigerian University

This study evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into the existing security surveillance architecture of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, a large public university with a campus area of 5,619.82 hectares. A mixed-methods case study design was employed, utilizing four-year historical security incident records (2021–2025), financial data on surveillance expenditure, a pilot UAV deployment programme, and structured questionnaires administered to 200 non-security and 50 security personnel. Findings revealed that the existing triad of personnel, vehicle patrols and closed-circuit television (CCTV) leaves over 60% of the campus unmonitored, with personnel alone consuming 97.3% of the security budget yet capable of covering only 20.2% of the total area. The introduction of two civilian-grade XT505 UAVs achieved 100% aerial coverage, detected 15.6% of post-deployment incidents, outperforming both vehicle patrols (9.3%) and CCTV (4.6%), at a cost per incident of ₦33,333 compared to ₦202,590 for vehicle patrols and ₦1,406,250 for CCTV. The UAVs were particularly effective in detecting unauthorized access (61.1% of such incidents) and traffic violations, and reduced response times from 10–15 minutes to 2–5 minutes. Stakeholder acceptance was exceptionally high, with 95.7% of non-security respondents and 100% of security personnel supporting full integration. The study concluded that efficiency and effectiveness of integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into the existing security surveillance architecture of the university represent a financially sustainable, operationally superior force multiplier that dramatically enhanced situational awareness and fills massive spatial surveillance gaps. A phased, integrated deployment model is recommended for OAU and similar institutions.