NIGERIA TAKES MAJOR LEAP TOWARDS SPACE TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGH AS TINUBU GOVERNMENT ADVANCES FOUR NEW SATELLITE PROJECTS. ...Dr Kingsley Udeh announces completion of international bidding process as Nigeria moves closer to expanding its space infrastructure and satellite manufacturing ambitions.

Nigeria is making significant progress towards strengthening its position in the global space technology industry, as the Federal Government moves closer to awarding contracts for the development of four additional satellites approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The development represents another major milestone in the Tinubu administration's ambition to reposition Nigeria's science, technology and innovation sector as a strategic driver of national development, digital transformation and economic growth.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this on November 11, 2026, during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC 2026), scheduled to hold from November 24 to 27.

According to the minister, the international competitive bidding process for the four proposed satellites has been concluded, with successful bidders already recommended for consideration. The process is now awaiting the necessary Federal Executive Council approval before the contracts can be formally awarded.

Providing details of the procurement process, Dr Udeh explained that companies from China, Israel, Europe, the United States and Nigeria participated in the international bidding exercise.

He further disclosed that representatives of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), and the Bureau of Public Procurement undertook verification visits to selected manufacturers to authenticate information submitted during the bidding process.

The minister explained that the next phase would involve securing the necessary FEC clearance, particularly given the substantial financial commitments associated with the satellite projects.

Although the government has yet to announce the successful manufacturers, contract values and technical specifications, the completion of the competitive bidding process signals considerable progress towards the actualisation of the four satellite projects.

Beyond strengthening Nigeria's domestic satellite infrastructure, the proposed satellites are expected to serve a wider African market.

Dr Udeh explained that the government intends to make their capabilities available to other African countries interested in accessing satellite services, creating opportunities for regional partnerships, technological cooperation and revenue generation.

This approach reflects a broader economic vision in which Nigeria moves beyond being a consumer of foreign space technology to becoming a strategic provider of satellite services within the African continent.

The minister made the disclosure against the backdrop of ASEICC 2026, which is expected to attract African space agencies and international stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the continent's space economy.

In what could become another defining chapter in Nigeria's space technology ambitions, the Federal Government is also advancing plans to establish a satellite propulsion and transportation facility in Epe, Lagos State.

Dr Udeh disclosed that the initiative followed recommendations from the previous African Space Economy conference, which identified the need for Nigeria to develop its own satellite launch infrastructure.

According to him, the Lagos State Government has already allocated land in Epe for the proposed facility, representing an important step towards translating the recommendation into reality.

The initiative forms part of Nigeria's broader ambition to develop indigenous capabilities for satellite manufacturing, propulsion and eventual launch operations within the country.

If successfully implemented, the project could strengthen local technological capacity, stimulate scientific research, create specialised employment opportunities and reduce Nigeria's dependence on foreign space infrastructure.

Highlighting the economic significance of the emerging opportunities, Dr Udeh placed the developments within the context of Africa's expanding space economy, which he valued at more than $25 billion, with an annual growth rate of 7.97 per cent.

He described ASEICC as an important platform for African countries to evaluate progress, exchange experiences, review previous commitments and strengthen cooperation across their respective national space programmes.

The conference is expected to provide another opportunity for stakeholders to examine strategies for building indigenous satellite manufacturing capabilities rather than relying predominantly on foreign companies.

The latest development underscores the growing importance of science, technology and innovation in Nigeria's national development agenda.

With the proposed four additional satellites, the planned Epe propulsion facility and the government's renewed emphasis on indigenous technological capacity, Nigeria is pursuing a broader strategy to strengthen its participation in the global space industry.

For Dr Kingsley Udeh and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the immediate priority is to translate these policy ambitions and procurement milestones into functional infrastructure, measurable economic opportunities and sustainable technological advancement.

As Nigeria approaches ASEICC 2026, attention will increasingly focus on how these initiatives can accelerate the country's transition from dependence on imported space technology towards greater indigenous innovation and regional technological leadership.

The message is clear: Nigeria's ambition in space technology is no longer limited to owning satellites; it is increasingly about developing the capacity to build, operate and commercialise space technology from within its own borders.

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