Abuja , Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has approved a N20 billion take-off fund for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to commence the regulation and licensing of Nigeria’s space sector.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, highlighting the agency’s renewed efforts to implement its long-standing regulatory mandate.
Push for Space Regulation
Dr. Adepoju explained that upon assuming office, he submitted a memo to President Tinubu stressing the need for Nigeria’s space activities to be properly regulated. He cited Sections 6 and 9 of the NASRDA Act, which empower the agency to oversee space-related operations within the country.
“When I raised that memo stating that our space can no longer be unregulated, Mr. President graciously approved the take-off fund of N20 billion a few months ago. This is to enable us to commence the space regulation and spectrum management in Nigeria,” he stated.
Despite being mandated to regulate the sector under the NASRDA Act of 2010, the agency has struggled to fulfill this role since its establishment in 1999.
Security and Economic Risks of an Unregulated Space Sector
Dr. Adepoju underscored the importance of space regulation, warning that the absence of oversight poses both security and economic risks.
“There are various activities with security implications, and if we don’t take charge of our space sector, it will continue to be misused,” he cautioned.
While the N20 billion has been approved, the NASRDA chief revealed that the funds are yet to be accessed due to bureaucratic processes and financial constraints. However, he assured that preparations were underway to launch the regulatory framework.
Scope of NASRDA’s Oversight
Providing further details, Dr. Adepoju outlined three key segments of Nigeria’s space sector: the upstream, midstream, and downstream categories.
- The upstream involves deep space exploration.
- The midstream covers satellite operations between space and Earth.
- The downstream focuses on ground stations and users of space-based services.
He emphasized the need for regulation across these areas to ensure fair practices and safeguard national interests.
“Without proper regulation, Nigerians will be short-changed. Licensing, spectrum monitoring, and operational guidelines must be enforced to protect the country’s space resources,” he said.
Licensing Framework for Public and Private Operators
Dr. Adepoju announced that NASRDA has officially commenced its licensing process, which will apply to both public and private entities involved in space-related activities. Operators in fields such as satellite imaging, geographic information systems, telecommunications, and broadcasting will now require NASRDA’s approval.
He also warned that unregulated access to geographical intelligence data could be exploited by non-state actors for illicit activities.
Broader Impact of Space Regulation
According to the NASRDA boss, effective space regulation will contribute to national security, drive economic diversification, and promote local content development. Additionally, it will create a revenue stream for the government, as industries such as oil and gas, maritime, and telecommunications depend on space-based technologies.
With Nigeria taking steps to formalize its space sector, Dr. Adepoju expressed optimism that the enforcement of regulatory policies will maximize the country’s space potential while preventing misuse and external exploitation.
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