The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to implement its long-overdue space regulation and licensing mandate following the approval of a N20 billion take-off fund by President Bola Tinubu.

NASRDA Director-General Dr. Matthew Adepoju confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday, ahead of the agency’s stakeholders’ workshop on space regulation scheduled for April 8. He noted that while the NASRDA Act of 2010 granted the agency regulatory authority, this function had remained unfulfilled since its establishment in 1999.

Adepoju stated that his memo to President Tinubu on the need for space regulation led to the fund’s approval, allowing NASRDA to oversee and manage Nigeria’s space activities. However, he noted that the agency has yet to access the funds, as disbursement remains subject to availability.

The DG outlined the need for oversight across the space sector’s three segments—upstream (deep space), midstream (satellites and space objects), and downstream (ground stations and users of space products). He emphasized that without regulation, Nigerians risk being short-changed, and space resources could be misused.

The new licensing framework will apply to public and private operators, including satellite image providers, GIS operators, and telecommunication services relying on satellite technology. Adepoju stressed that unregulated space activities could pose security threats if exploited by non-state actors.

The initiative is expected to enhance national security, support economic diversification, and generate revenue from industries like oil and gas, shipping, and telecommunications, which depend on space technology.