Fed Govt Approves N2bn To Boost Space Economy, Satellites

Nigeria has charted a new digital and economic path as the federal government rolled out an ambitious space-led growth agenda focused on new satellite launches, increased industry revenue and expanded broadband access in underserved communities.

At the opening of the 2026 Nigerian Satellite Week in Abuja, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, confirmed the government’s approval for the acquisition of two new satellites—NigComSat 2A and 2B, describing the move as a “defining commitment” to national development, digital sovereignty and economic competitiveness.

The minister declared that satellite infrastructure now sits at the heart of modern economies, stressing that Nigeria’s investment in space technology is no longer optional but strategic. He said beyond connectivity, satellites are critical to agriculture, education, security and emergency response and cross-border commerce.

Tijani said Nigeria remains the only country in West Africa with an operational communication satellite, positioning it as a regional hub for digital connectivity and resilience. He added that ongoing federal investments including 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables and thousands of telecom towers are being integrated with satellite systems to deepen nationwide broadband penetration.

In her welcome address, the managing director of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Mrs Jane Nkechi Egerton-Ideyen, said the country’s space programme had entered a new phase of intentional growth, marked by stronger institutional capacity, expanding partnerships, and measurable economic impact.

She revealed that NIGCOMSAT’s revenue surged from under $650 million in 2023 to over N2 billion in 2025, attributing the leap to strategic reforms, new commercial agreements and growing demand for satellite broadband services across Africa.

Egerton-Ideyen said Nigeria has launched seven space assets in just over two decades, underscoring the country’s steady rise in the global space ecosystem. She emphasized that the focus is no longer on prestige but on practical impact extending connectivity, improving livelihoods, and driving inclusive development.

According to her, satellite broadband penetration in Africa is expanding rapidly, with growth rates estimated at about 20 per cent annually, creating vast opportunities for Nigeria to lead in the continent’s emerging space economy.

The NIGCOMSAT boss also highlighted ongoing efforts to build local capacity, disclosing that over 500 young Nigerians were trained in satellite technology applications in the past year alone, while more than 50 startups have been supported through the agency’s accelerator programme.

She said initiatives such as Project 774 are extending broadband access to all local government areas, targeting improved service delivery in rural healthcare, education, agriculture and commerce, particularly in communities lacking traditional telecom infrastructure.

Both speakers stressed that collaboration between government, private sector, academia and international partners would be critical to unlocking the full value of the space economy, with Tijani announcing a N12 billion Digital Economy Research Fund to support innovation across Nigerian universities.