FG begins process to acquire four satellites
The Federal Government has begun the procurement process for four additional satellites approved by President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja on the forthcoming African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC 2026).
The conference, scheduled for November 24 to 27, will be hosted by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Udeh said the procurement process had reached the stage of recommending successful bidders following an international competitive bidding exercise involving companies from China, Israel, Europe, the United States and Nigeria.
He said officials of the ministry, NASRDA and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had inspected the facilities of some satellite manufacturers to verify their claims before making recommendations.
“The next stage is approval to award the contracts, which will also require Federal Executive Council approval because substantial funding is involved,” he said.
The minister explained that the satellites would provide services to Nigeria and other African countries interested in accessing them, creating opportunities for international partnerships and revenue generation.
He said ASEICC 2026 would also provide a platform for African countries and international partners to explore collaboration and discuss the potential benefits of the new satellites.
Udeh urged African countries to move beyond relying on foreign companies to manufacture satellites and begin developing the local expertise needed to design and produce them on the continent.
He valued Africa’s space economy at more than $25bn, with an annual growth rate of 7.97 per cent, describing it as one of the continent’s fastest-growing industries.
On the implementation of recommendations from the previous conference, Udeh said the platform had encouraged African countries to see their individual space programmes as interconnected ecosystems capable of delivering mutual benefits through collaboration.
He described the conference as a peer-review platform where countries assess their progress, exchange experiences and encourage one another to achieve agreed targets, rather than an instrument for enforcing compliance.
The minister disclosed that one of the major recommendations from the previous conference was for Nigeria to establish its own satellite launch facility.
He said progress had been made towards achieving the objective, including the allocation of land by the Lagos State Government in Epe for a satellite propulsion and transportation facility.
“This shows that we are not just making recommendations and proposals. We are taking practical steps towards manufacturing satellites and launching them from Nigeria,” he said.
Udeh added that the participation of chief executives of space agencies from Africa and beyond demonstrated growing interest in the conference and recognition of achievements recorded through previous engagements.