The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to commence the implementation of its space regulation and licensing mandate with N20 billion take-off fund approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Adepoju said the regulatory function of the agency as encapsulated in 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 President Bola Tinubu on the need to enforce the regulatory functions of NASDRA.
According to him, this is in line with the provisions of Section 6 and 9 of the laws establishing it, adding that 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 few months ago.
“This is to enable us to commence the space regulation and spectrum management in Nigeria.”
Adepoju said the agency was yet to access the N20 billion, adding that 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 explained that the space sector had three segments, the upstream, midstream and downstream.
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 emphasised the need for strict oversight of satellite image providers, geographic information system operators, satellite-based telecommunication and broadcasting services, among others.
He also said that if unregulated, geographical data intelligence could be exploited by non-state actors for illicit activities.
The Director-General further told NAN 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 relied on space products for their operations.
EKWUTOS