The Federal Government has moved closer to procuring four additional satellites approved by President Bola Tinubu, following the completion of key stages of an international competitive bidding process.
The exercise has progressed to the identification and recommendation of prospective contractors, with the government now seeking the necessary approvals to award the contracts.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a press briefing organised ahead of the African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC 2026).
According to the minister, companies from China, Israel, Europe, the United States and Nigeria participated in the bidding exercise.
FG concludes major procurement assessments
Udeh explained that a joint team comprising officials of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) conducted inspections of selected satellite manufacturers.
The inspections were aimed at independently verifying the technical capabilities and facilities presented by the competing companies before determining the preferred bidders.
He said the procurement exercise had entered the contract award approval phase, adding that the scale of investment required meant the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would also have to consider and approve the proposed expenditure.
“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 noted that the proposed satellites would not only serve Nigeria’s needs but could also be accessed by other African countries, potentially opening up opportunities for cross-border cooperation and additional revenue.
He said ASEICC 2026 would offer participating countries and international stakeholders an opportunity to examine areas of cooperation and explore the economic and technological benefits associated with the planned satellite infrastructure.
The conference is scheduled to take place from November 24 to 27, with NASRDA serving as the host institution.
Nigeria targets indigenous satellite production
Beyond expanding its satellite infrastructure, the Federal Government is seeking to position Nigeria as a major participant in the design, manufacture and deployment of space technology.
Udeh called on African governments to reduce their dependence on foreign manufacturers by investing in domestic expertise, research and infrastructure capable of supporting indigenous satellite production.
He disclosed that Africa’s space economy was worth more than $25 billion and was expanding at an estimated annual rate of 7.97%, highlighting the commercial opportunities available to countries willing to invest in the sector.
Reflecting on discussions at the previous edition of the conference, the minister said African countries had been encouraged to approach their national space programmes as interconnected systems rather than isolated initiatives.
Such an approach, he explained, could strengthen cooperation, improve resource utilisation and generate economic benefits across the continent.
He also identified the establishment of a satellite launch facility in Nigeria as one of the recommendations emerging from the previous conference.
According to him, the Lagos State Government has already allocated land in Epe for the development of a satellite propulsion and transportation facility.
The proposed infrastructure is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s long-term ambition of developing domestic capabilities for satellite manufacturing and launch operations.
“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 further attributed the growing international participation in ASEICC to increased recognition of the conference as a platform for advancing Africa’s space ambitions.
He noted that the expected attendance of chief executives of space agencies from across Africa and other parts of the world demonstrated the increasing interest in the continent’s space sector.
Procurement builds on Nigeria’s wider satellite ambitions
The proposed acquisition of four additional satellites forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to expand its space infrastructure, improve communications and observation capabilities, and establish a stronger presence in the global space industry.
The development comes amid an ongoing government programme involving the procurement of six satellites, which Nairametrics reported in October 2026 had reached 95 per cent completion.
The programme, estimated at $2 billion, comprises three optical Earth-observation satellites, one Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite and two communications satellites.
It also incorporates plans for an Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory, which is expected to support the development of indigenous expertise and strengthen local participation in satellite production.
Among the projects are NIGCOMSAT-2A and NIGCOMSAT-2B, two communications satellites that secured Federal Executive Council approval in August 2026.
The satellites are expected to increase Nigeria’s communications capacity, strengthen its digital infrastructure and reduce dependence on foreign satellite service providers.
With the latest procurement process advancing towards contract approval, the government is seeking to accelerate its ambition of transforming Nigeria into a stronger player in Africa’s emerging space economy.
