The National Space Research and Development Agency is set to commence the implementation of its space regulation and licensing mandate with a N20 billion take-off fund approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The director-general of NASRDA, Matthew Adepoju, said this on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Adepoju said the regulatory function of the agency as encapsulated in the NASDRA Act (2010) had remained unfulfilled since its establishment in 1999.

He spoke against the background of NASRDA stakeholders’ workshop on space regulation scheduled for April 8.

He said, on assumption of office, he raised a memo to Mr Tinubu on the need to enforce the regulatory functions of NASDRA.

According to him, this is in line with the provisions of Sections 6 and 9 of the laws establishing it, adding that Mr Tinubu eventually approved the take-off fund.

“When I raised that memo stating that our space can no longer be unregulated, Mr President graciously approved the take-off fund of N20 billion a few months ago. This is to enable us to commence the space regulation and spectrum management in Nigeria.

“Although times and lots of activities happen that have security implications, if we don’t take charge of our space sector, it will continue to be misused,’’ Mr Adepoju said.

Mr Adepoju said the agency had yet to access the N20 billion, adding that the release of funds was always subject to its availability.

“Within the framework of what is possible for us to do now, we’ve set up the platform and we are commencing our regulatory and licensing functions,” he said.

He explained that the space sector had three segments, the upstream, midstream and downstream.

He added, “We have the upstream, which is deep space, and the midstream, which is in between the space objects, such as satellites and the planet Earth. We have the downstream, which has to do with ground stations, activities and people who are utilising space products and services.

“In between these three sectors, there are activities that must be regulated; otherwise, Nigerians will be shortchanged. People have to be licensed and issued guidelines; the spectrum within Nigeria has to be monitored and the agency has been granted this power since 2010 and this has lots of benefits.”

Mr Adepoju said the platform for the licensing was ready and open to both public and private sector operators in the space arena.

The licensing, he said, was available for people using and providing space products and services.

He noted that the need for strict oversight of satellite image providers, geographic information system operators, and satellite-based telecommunication and broadcasting services, among others.

He also said if unregulated, geographical data intelligence could be exploited by non-state actors for illicit activities.

The director-general further explained that the initiative would enhance national security, economic diversification and local content development.

He said it would also generate revenue from sub-sectors such as oil and gas, shipping and telecommunications, which relied on space products for their operations. 

(NAN)