The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) will begin implementing its space regulation and licensing mandate.
The development was as a result a N20 billion take-off fund approved by President Bola Tinubu.
NASRDA’s Director-General, Dr Matthew Adepoju, confirmed the approval to newsmen.
Adepoju noted that NASRDA’s regulatory function, outlined in the NASDRA Act 2010, has been unfulfilled since the agency’s creation in 1999.
He explained that upon taking office, he submitted a memo to President Tinubu highlighting the need to enforce these regulations, which led to the fund’s approval.
He emphasised the importance of regulating the space sector, including satellite communications and geographic data to prevent misuse and potential security risks.
While the N20 billion is yet to be accessed, NASRDA has set up a platform to start regulatory and licensing functions.
Adepoju outlined the space sector’s three segments—upstream, midstream, and downstream—each requiring oversight to ensure fair practices.
He said that licensing space operators and regulating satellite-based services would safeguard national security, economic growth, and local content development.
The initiative is also expected to generate revenue from sectors such as oil and gas, shipping, and telecommunications.
