President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday directed the immediate release of funds for the maintenance of the nation’s space assets in view of strategic importance of space technology to national development, particularly the digital economic drive
The President gave the order during the maiden meeting of the National Space Council, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Represented at the meeting by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the implementation of the nation’s revised 25-year roadmap for space development.
He assured: “I hereby approved that cost of the implementation of the approved revised 25-year roadmap for the implementation of the national space policy be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and approval.”
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According to him, Nigeria will not be merely watching developments in the rapidly evolving global technology space but will actively be participating and contributing to the development.
Tinubu said: “We will participate, we will compete, we will contribute. Our space ambitions must be anchored in outcomes, accountability, and national value.”
He maintained that the space programme was not an abstract pursuit by his adminstration but a practical tool to benefit ordinary Nigerians, including farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs, soldiers, researchers, and policymakers in public and private sectors of the country.
Tinubu explained that investments in the space sector would help to boost agriculture productivity guide early warning systems for floods and fires, smarter cities and safer skies, stronger communications and cybersecurity, and promote globally competitive digital economy
Noting that the space economy is rapidly growing and is expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, he stressed that when we invest in space, we are not funding a distant dream but creating enabling environment to meet the $1 trillion digital economy target by 2030.
To facilitate responsible use of the nation’s space assets, the President directed the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), to enforce regulations and spectrum management frameworks under the NASDRA Act 2010.
Similarly, he charged ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and the organization private sector (OPS) players to comply with the regulations and facilitate timely release of approved funds for the digital economy drive.
Describing the space programme as a critical pillar for national development, technological advancement, and economic diversification, Tinubu expressed optimism that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Ekpe would provide Nigeria with the capacity to launch satellites into orbit, while reducing dependence on foreign expertise not only to host the satellites but also to maintain them.
Speaking on some of the key decisions taken during the meeting, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Kingsley Udeh, confirmed that the meeting approved the Conditions of Service and Staff Regulation for NASRDA to align with international best practices, and formation of a working group of space experts to revise the 25-year national space programme roadmap.
In addition, at the meeting approval was granted for the development and operationalisation of the Space Centre in Ekpe to enable Nigeria to independently launch and maintain satellites, thereby reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign countries.
