Speaking at a stakeholders' workshop on Space Regulation organized by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja, Minister Nnaji emphasized the need for a robust regulatory framework. He lamented the tactics employed by some foreign investors to circumvent the system and avoid paying their fair share of mandatory revenues. The event also served as the platform for the unveiling of NASRDA's new corporate logo, signifying a new chapter for the agency.
Minister Nnaji highlighted the immense potential of properly managed space regulation, stating that it could significantly boost national revenue and play a crucial role in combating criminal activities such as pipeline vandalism and insurgency. "In the near future, we will move from the $1 trillion economy to $5 trillion. So with this space regulation and licensing, Starlink and most of them, including DSTV, will come here, some will pay peanuts and shortchange Nigerians. These are part of what we want to address through this space regulation and license," the Minister asserted.
Drawing on projections from the Director-General of NASRDA, Minister Nnaji expressed confidence that the new regulatory regime could generate over N200 billion annually, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 18-20%. He emphasized that this revenue generation is just one of the many benefits expected from the agency's initiatives.
Beyond revenue, the Minister addressed the persistent issue of signal disruptions experienced by satellite pay-TV and radio subscribers during rainfall. He explained that this problem often stems from service providers operating on lower, less expensive bandwidths, which are susceptible to weather interference. "All these challenges of your TV or radio not working or losing signal whenever it is raining are because the DSTV and the likes are not hosting their equipment at the right bandwidth. They will host it at the lower bandwidth, where they will not spend money on the higher bandwidth," Minister Nnaji stated.
He assured Nigerians that the new regulations would mandate these service providers to utilize the appropriate higher bandwidths, thereby ensuring uninterrupted service delivery regardless of weather conditions. "But with the regulation, we will force them to move it up to where it’s supposed to be. Because if you move it up to where it’s supposed to be, you won’t have any of those problems of losing signal as soon as it starts raining. So this is part of the many reforms that are going on under this very capable man, Dr. Olumide Adepoju," he added.
Furthermore, Minister Nnaji revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the mainstreaming of space technology in revenue generation, particularly highlighting its potential in monitoring critical infrastructure like oil pipelines. He suggested that space-based surveillance could offer a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to current methods of pipeline monitoring. "This is because we know that in the oil sector where we waste a lot of money talking about giving some people a push and contracts to monitor our pipeline, we will achieve it with next to nothing using space," he explained.
Earlier, the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, underscored the necessity of space regulation in Nigeria, citing the exponential growth the industry has witnessed in recent years. He lauded President Tinubu and Minister Nnaji for their commitment to making this regulatory framework a reality.
Dr. Adepoju emphasized the transformative impact of the increasing number of satellites and space-based assets on communication, business, and national security. "We must ensure that space activities within our jurisdiction are properly regulated, commercially optimized, and in compliance with international best practices," he stated.
He further elaborated on NASRDA's crucial role under the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in licensing, monitoring, and controlling all space activities within and above Nigerian territory, spanning the upstream, mainstream, and downstream sectors. Dr. Adepoju expressed optimism that the new regulatory environment would attract more investment into the Nigerian space industry, ensure higher quality service delivery to citizens, and significantly contribute to national revenue generation. He concluded by emphasizing that the goal of this initiative is not merely enforcement but fostering collaboration to better serve Nigeria.