President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate release of approved funds for the maintenance and security of Nigeria’s space assets, describing the move as a strategic response to reposition the country’s space programme as a national priority in an increasingly volatile global environment.
The directive was issued during the inaugural meeting of the National Space Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressed that Nigeria “will not watch the new frontier unfold from the sideline” and must actively participate, compete and contribute to global space development.
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“I hereby approve the 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,” President Tinubu stated.
He further emphasised: “Nigeria will not watch the new frontier unfold from the sideline. We will participate, we will compete, we will contribute. Our space ambitions must be anchored in outcomes, accountability and national value.
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“We must build a programme that serves the farmer in the field, the teacher in the classroom, the entrepreneur in the market, the soldier on duty, the researcher in the laboratory and the policy maker who must plan with evidence rather than guesswork. This is how a nation turns attitude into advantage.”
Link to Middle East Tensions Although not explicitly stated, the timing of the directive coincides with the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, where U.S.-Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliatory missile/drone attacks have targeted diplomatic compounds, military facilities and energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and Qatar.
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Space-based infrastructure including satellites for communication, earth observation, navigation, early warning systems and intelligence gathering has become even more critical during periods of geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions and threats to global energy routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
President Tinubu noted that space technology is foundational to cybersecurity, a vibrant digital economy, precision agriculture, border security, disaster response (floods, fires), smarter cities and safer skies. He projected that the global space economy would exceed $1 trillion by 2040, positioning investment in the sector as “funding the confidence of a nation that refuses to be trapped by the limits of yesterday.”
Additional Directives & Approvals The President directed the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to: Employ all legally available means to enforce space regulation and spectrum management frameworks.
Ensure secure utilisation of space assets and resources over Nigeria on behalf of the National Space Council (as provided in the NASRDA Act 2010).
All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), stakeholders and the private sector must comply with the space regulatory framework.
The Federal Ministry of Finance must release all approved funds promptly.
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Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the session as historic. The Council approved: New Conditions of Service and Staff Regulations for NASRDA to align with international best practices and curb brain drain.
Formation of a working group (NASRDA, NCC, National Defence Space Agency, NIGCOMSAT) to refine and operationalise the revised 25-year roadmap.
Development and operationalisation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Space Centre in Ekpe to enhance local satellite hosting and maintenance capacity, reducing dependence on foreign expertise.
Renewed Hope Agenda Alignment President Tinubu reiterated that his administration is committed to developing society “by engaging relevant human resources for the socio-economic improvement of our nation,” framing space investment as a practical tool for economic diversification, inclusive growth and national security.
The meeting marks a renewed push to activate key instruments of the revised National Space Policy and Programme approved in 2022, including the long-dormant National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) and related governance structures.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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