President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of previously approved funds for the maintenance and sustainability of Nigeria’s space assets, underscoring his administration’s resolve to fully implement the National Space Policy and Programme.
The directive was delivered on Tuesday at the inaugural 2026 meeting of the National Space Council, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to executing the revised 25-year roadmap designed to reposition Nigeria as a competitive player in the global space industry.
President Tinubu approved the forwarding of the financial framework for implementing the updated long-term space development plan to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and final approval.
The move signals a push to institutionalise funding for space initiatives within the broader national budgetary structure.
According to the President, Nigeria cannot afford to remain a passive observer as global advancements in space technology accelerate.
He stressed that the country must actively participate, innovate, and compete in what he described as the “new frontier” of human and economic development.
“Our ambition in space must translate into measurable outcomes that directly benefit Nigerians,” the President stated, emphasising accountability and national value in programme execution.
Tinubu linked the country’s space aspirations to tangible socio-economic benefits, noting that space technology plays a vital role in agriculture, environmental monitoring, border security, disaster management, telecommunications, and the digital economy.
He highlighted projections that the global space economy could surpass one trillion dollars by 2040, arguing that strategic investment now would position Nigeria to tap into emerging opportunities.
Investment in the sector, he said, would strengthen precision farming, enhance early warning systems against floods and wildfires, support smarter urban planning, improve aviation safety, and fortify national cybersecurity infrastructure.
The President further directed relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), alongside private sector stakeholders, to comply strictly with existing regulatory frameworks governing space activities.
He tasked authorities with enforcing spectrum management and regulatory provisions as stipulated in the NASDRA Act 2010, ensuring responsible and secure utilization of Nigeria’s space resources.
Providing details of the Council’s resolutions, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the meeting as historic, citing several landmark decisions aimed at revitalising the nation’s space ecosystem.
Among the approvals was a review of the Conditions of Service and Staff Regulations for the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency.
The reform seeks to align remuneration and operational standards with global best practices, curbing the migration of skilled Nigerian space professionals abroad and strengthening domestic capacity.
The Council also resolved to establish a working group of experts to refine and operationalize the revised 25-year space roadmap.
The team would comprise representatives from key institutions, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Defence Space Agency, and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), among other stakeholders in the sector.
In a significant development, the Council approved the development and operationalisation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Ekpe.
The facility is expected to enhance Nigeria’s capability to launch and maintain satellites independently, reducing reliance on foreign technical expertise.
Officials said the centre would serve as a strategic hub for satellite technology, research, and innovation, reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a leading space power on the African continent.
With the release of funds and renewed policy momentum, the Federal Government appears poised to deepen its investment in space science not merely as a symbol of technological progress, but as a driver of economic diversification and national security.
