Tinubu Orders Release of Funds for Nigeria’s Space Asset Maintenance

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate release of approved funds for the maintenance of Nigeria’s space assets, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the revised 25-year National Space Policy and Programme roadmap.

The directive was issued on Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the National Space Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria must remain competitive in the rapidly expanding global space economy and stressed that the country’s space programme should deliver measurable national benefits.

He noted that space technology must support key sectors such as agriculture, security, communications, and urban development through applications including precision farming, improved border surveillance, early warning systems, and smarter city infrastructure.

The President also directed that the implementation cost of the revised roadmap be presented to the Federal Executive Council for consideration and approval.

In addition, he instructed Ministries, Departments, Agencies, stakeholders, and the private sector to comply with the national space regulatory framework, including the timely release of funds by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Tinubu noted that the global space economy is projected to exceed one trillion dollars by 2040 and described space technology as vital to cybersecurity, the digital economy, environmental monitoring, and natural resource management.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the session as historic, noting that the Council approved new Conditions of Service and Staff Regulations for the National Space Research and Development Agency to improve staff retention and align with international standards.

The Council also approved the formation of a working group comprising the space agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Defence Space Agency, and Nigerian Communications Satellite to refine the revised 25-year roadmap.

It further endorsed the development and operationalisation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Ekpe, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s satellite launch capacity and reducing reliance on foreign expertise.