President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate release of funds for the maintenance of Nigeria’s space assets and directed all government agencies to comply with national space regulations, marking a significant step in the country’s 25-year space development roadmap.
The directives were issued during the first meeting of the National Space Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, described by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology as historic, focused on operationalising Nigeria’s revised National Space Policy and Programme.
A key outcome is the procurement of four new satellites. The Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) confirmed three are optical observation satellites, while one is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platform capable of day-and-night imaging. These assets are intended to enhance national security, maritime surveillance, agricultural monitoring, and support the blue economy.
President Tinubu, represented at the meeting, mandated that the cost of implementing the 25-year space roadmap be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for approval. He stressed that space investment is not a “distant dream” but a catalyst for precision agriculture, border security, disaster early warning systems, smarter cities, and a competitive digital economy. “We will participate, we will compete, we will contribute,” he stated, anchoring ambitions in outcomes and national value.
The President directed all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), along with the private sector, to adhere to the space regulatory framework established under the NASRDA Act. He further instructed the Ministry of Finance to release all approved funds promptly for these purposes, ensuring responsible use of space assets and spectrum over Nigeria.
To strengthen the institutional framework, the Council approved updated Conditions of Service and Staff Regulations for NASRDA. The Minister explained this move aims to align remuneration with international standards, retain skilled Nigerian space professionals, and prevent brain drain from the sector.
Furthermore, a working group comprising NASRDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Defence Space Agency, NIGCOMSAT, and other ecosystem stakeholders was established to finalise the revised 25-year roadmap. The Council also approved the development of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Epe, which is projected to give Nigeria indigenous capacity to launch and maintain satellites, reducing reliance on foreign infrastructure.
These coordinated actions—funding release, satellite acquisition, regulatory enforcement, and human capital development—signal a concerted push to transform Nigeria’s space programme from aspiration into a functional driver of socio-economic development and national security, aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
