Federal Government to Regulate Nigeria’s Space Industry to Boost Revenue
According to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, the federal government is set to begin regulating and licensing players in Nigeria’s space ecosystem to boost revenue generation.
This announcement came during the inauguration of the Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja, marking a key event in celebrating Nigeria’s 25th anniversary in space. Nnaji emphasized that the new regulatory efforts will encompass the upstream, mainstream, and part of downstream sectors of the space industry.
Nnaji highlighted the potential of satellite technology to address various issues in sectors such as oil and gas, where illegal activities like pipeline vandalism and revenue evasion from shipping activities could be better monitored. He explained that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite technology would track ships that evade bunker fees and monitor pipeline leakages, thus improving Nigeria’s revenue generation. The use of satellites also offers benefits for agriculture and the monitoring of earth movements, showcasing the wide-reaching applications of space technology.
NASRDA’s Director-General, Matthew Adepoju, reiterated the agency’s commitment to deploying space spin-offs to benefit Nigeria’s economy. He emphasized the agency’s focus on collaborating with the private sector and utilizing space technology in areas such as security and agriculture. Adepoju also discussed the ongoing research and breakthroughs within NASRDA, stressing the importance of converting these innovations into products and services that directly contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The inauguration event also featured the launch of NASRDA’s International Journal of Space Technology and Earth Sciences by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye. Additionally, the director of the Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory, Chichebe Akachukwu, explained the agency’s focus on developing local content for drone technology, which is being used for precision agriculture and surveillance, further enhancing Nigeria’s space capabilities.
