Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, says the federal government will soon commence regulating and licensing players in the space ecosystem for more revenue generation.

Mr Nnaji said this at the inauguration of the Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory of the National Space Research and Development Agency in Abuja on Thursday.

The inauguration of the laboratory was part of the activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nigeria in space.

Mr Nnaji stated that there were many illegalities in the oil and gas sector and different sectors of the economy which satellite technology could detect and address.

NASRDA director-general Matthew Adepoju said, “We have done a lot of research and innovative breakthroughs, and one of my major priorities is how to turn these into products and services for direct benefit to Nigeria’s economy.”

Mr Adepoju appealed to ministries, departments and agencies that required space technology to collaborate with NASRDA to achieve the government’s mandate.

AUAVL director Chichebe Akachukwu corroborated that the idea was to ensure the implementation of Presidential Executive Order 005 of local content development.

Mr Akachukwu said the materials for the agency’s drones were locally sourced and processed, adding that they were either designed and built in China or America, depending on where they got the correct specifications.

Mr Akachukwu, who said the agency already had a laboratory in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, said the Abuja lab would offer its collaborators ease of use in the facility within Abuja.

(NAN)