President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to prioritise funding for Nigeria’s space programme to enable the country maintain a leading role in the fourth industrial revolution.
Speaking at the State House Conference Centre yesterday in Abuja through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, during the celebration of Nigeria’s 25 years in space and technology, the President emphasised the importance of strengthening the legislative framework for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
“There is a need to strengthen the Act that established NASRDA to help the Nigerian space ecosystem become more vibrant in its local and international engagements,” he said.
President Tinubu highlighted the role of the private sector in advancing Nigeria’s space ambitions, calling for its integration into the heart of the national programme.
“Great effort should be made to ensure that the private sector is mainstreamed into the heart of our space program to maximize opportunities for national development,” he said.
The President urged the lawmakers to provide increased budgetary support for NASRDA, saying the agency’s work has the potential to yield massive socioeconomic dividends.
“The sector requires improved budgetary support to accomplish its programs. This will solidify Nigeria’s standing as a leading space-faring country in Africa and boost its competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment,” President Tinubu added.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s achievements in space science, the President lauded NASRDA’s efforts in capacity building and satellite development.
He said: “In the quest to bring the benefits of space to national development, NASRDA has developed and launched major space programmes, including building indigenous capacity in space science and producing and launching satellites for socioeconomic and environmental services.”
President Tinubu also acknowledged the collaboration between NASRDA, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), and the Defence Space Administration (DSA).
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This synergy, the President stressed, formed the foundation for a robust national space programme.
“Together, these institutions have created a tripodal support system for an advanced and more robust space programme, with seven satellites launched so far and plans underway to launch four more within this administration’s tenure,” he said.
In a message as supervising minister of the agency, Nnaji noted that the global space economy, projected to reach $1.8 trillion, presents opportunities for Nigeria across the industries, such as logistics, agriculture, defence, and digital communications.
He projected that over 60 per cent of new economic value in these sectors would be derived from space-enabled technologies.
The Managing Director/CEO of NigComSat, Mrs. Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, described Nigeria’s 25-year journey in space science as a testament to the nation’s innovation and resilience.
“From the launch of NigeriaSat-1 to the groundbreaking work of NASRDA and the Defence Space Administration, we have unlocked new horizons in communication, security, agriculture, and disaster management,” she said.
The event also featured the unveiling of a 400-page compendium chronicling NASRDA’s activities in the past 25 years, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging space science and technology for national development.