The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to begin implementing long awaited space regulation and licensing functions following the approval of an NGN 20 billion (~USD 13 million) take-off fund by President Bola Tinubu.
NASRDA’s Director-General, Dr Matthew Adepoju, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, highlighting the agency’s renewed commitment to enforcing regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s space sector.
Dr Adepoju explained that upon assuming office, he submitted a memo to President Tinubu emphasising the urgent need to regulate Nigeria’s space activities.
This aligns with his promise during an interview with Space in Africa, signaling a “new dawn” for Nigeria’s space sector.
Citing Sections 6 and 9 of the NASRDA Act (established in 2010), which mandate the agency to oversee space activities, he stated when I raised that memo stating that our space can no longer be unregulated, President Tinubu graciously approved the take-off fund of NGN 20 billion a few months ago.
This will enable us to commence space regulation and spectrum management in Nigeria.
Despite being empowered to regulate the space sector under the NASRDA Act of 2010, the agency has not been able to exercise this function since its establishment in 1999.
Furthermore, Dr Adepoju stressed that the absence of regulation poses security threats and economic risks, making establishing oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse imperative.
Many activities in our space sector have security implications If we don’t take charge now, it will continue to be misused.
While the NGN 20 billion take-off fund has been approved, NASRDA has yet to access the funds due to bureaucratic procedures and resource availability constraints.
Nonetheless, the agency has laid the groundwork for its regulatory and licensing functions.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2025/04/03/nasrda-secures-ngn-20-billion-take-off-fund-to-enforce-space-regulation-in-nigeria/
