By 
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says the procurement process for six new satellites approved by the federal government is now 95 percent complete.
Matthew Adepoju, director-general of NASRDA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, saying the programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s space capabilities and replace ageing satellite assets.
Six satellites planned to strengthen Nigeria’s space programme
Adepoju said the satellite programme was approved by the administration of President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s space infrastructure.
The programme comprises three optical Earth observation satellites, one synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite and two communication satellites, designated NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B.
“Currently, there is a procurement procedure which we are at 95 per cent level now,” Adepoju said.
He added that NASRDA would soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and contractual agreement with foreign technical partners at the African Space Economic Conference scheduled for November.
According to the NASRDA boss, the satellites are not nanosatellites and funding for the programme has already been approved.
“We have three optical satellites to be launched at sub-metre resolution. We have Synthetic Aperture Radar to be launched at one-metre and sub-metre resolution, then communication satellites, which come as 2A and 2B,” he said.
NASRDA plans new satellite assembly and testing laboratory
Beyond the procurement of new space assets, NASRDA is also planning to establish a new Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory (AITL) to expand Nigeria’s capacity to develop and manufacture satellites locally.
Adepoju said the facility would provide end-to-end capabilities covering satellite assembly, integration and testing, while supporting the development of a new generation of Nigerian space missions.
“One of the beautiful things that we are going to do is to build our new Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory, which is end-to-end,” he said.
“That is where we will be manufacturing a new set of satellites, and that is why I said we are going to declare new missions very soon.”
The agency expects the facility to be completed within 18 months of signing the contract.
“We have the timeline from the day of signing the contract to commissioning, and that is 18 months,” Adepoju said.
The planned infrastructure could strengthen domestic technical capabilities by providing a platform for satellite development, testing and integration within Nigeria.
NASRDA moves to strengthen space-sector regulation
Adepoju also said NASRDA was strengthening regulation and spectrum management to improve oversight of activities within Nigeria’s space sector.
He said the agency was taking a more active approach to monitoring foreign companies and technical partners operating in the sector.
“Gone are the days that foreign companies and partners come and do whatever they like in our space sector,” he said.
“Now we monitor, we manage and ensure that the abuses of the past are no longer repeated in this country.”
The focus on regulation and spectrum management comes as Nigeria expands its space infrastructure and works with international partners on satellite development and deployment.
Agency urges young Nigerians to explore space opportunities
The NASRDA director-general also encouraged Nigerian youths to explore opportunities in the space sector, noting that innovation does not always require substantial financial resources.
He said investment in space technology and other critical infrastructure would contribute to Nigeria’s longer-term economic ambitions, including the target of building a $1 trillion economy.
The satellite programme is estimated to cost $2 billion and is expected to be delivered through a range of international partners.
NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B are to be delivered through Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and France’s Thales Alenia Space, with China Great Wall Industry Corporation also involved in the partnership.
The combination of new satellite assets, domestic assembly and testing capacity, and stronger regulatory oversight is expected to support the next phase of Nigeria’s space programme while expanding the country’s technical capabilities in the sector.
Comments