Ola Akinwunmi
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vowed that the National Assembly will prioritize support for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), calling it a cornerstone in Nigeria’s fight against security crises and economic stagnation. The pledge came during NASRDA’s 2025 Top Management Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where lawmakers and stakeholders emphasized the urgent need to harness space technology for national development.
Represented by Senator Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) at the Thursday event, Akpabio described NASRDA as “pivotal” in devising solutions to Nigeria’s interconnected security and socio-economic challenges.
His remarks, detailed in a statement by NASRDA’s media director Dr. Felix Ale, reveals the legislature’s commitment to bolstering funding for space science. “Space-based technologies underpin global socio-economic systems. Nigeria must invest decisively to remain competitive,” Akpabio asserted, stressing the agency’s role in enabling real-time surveillance of insecure regions through satellite capabilities.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, represented by Deputy Governor Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, praised the retreat as “timely” and urged NASRDA to align its capacity-building programs with national priorities. Similarly, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji, via delegate Dr. Robert Ngwu, hailed space technology as a “vital platform for sovereignty and economic resilience,” endorsing the retreat’s visionary agenda.
NASRDA Director General Dr. Matthew Adepoju closed the event by reaffirming the agency’s focus on homegrown innovation. “This retreat marks a strategic reset—to enhance our internal capacity and deliver transformative space-based solutions,” he declared, signaling ambitions to expand Nigeria’s footprint in the global space economy.
NASRDA, established in 1999, has spearheaded Nigeria’s satellite programs, including the NigerSat-1 and NigComSat-1R. Legislative backing could accelerate projects aimed at monitoring terrorism, banditry, and environmental threats while fostering tech-driven sectors like agriculture and telecommunications.
The pledge reflects growing recognition of space technology as a dual tool for security and development. With heightened legislative support, NASRDA may expand its role in positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leader in space innovation—a critical step as nations race to leverage orbital assets for geopolitical and economic clout.
“Adequate resources for space tech aren’t optional—they’re a national imperative,” Akpabio concluded, signaling a potential surge in budgetary allocations for NASRDA’s ambitious 2025 agenda.
