Nigeria Moves Towards Contract Awards for Four New Satellites
Nigeria has moved closer to awarding contracts for four additional satellites approved by President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), following the completion of an international competitive bidding process. The procurement has reached the stage of recommending successful bidders, with contract awards awaiting further FEC approval.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed the development on 11 November during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC 2026), scheduled for 24–27 November and organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Companies from China, Israel, Europe, the United States and Nigeria participated in the bidding process. According to Udeh, officials from the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, NASRDA and the Bureau of Public Procurement also visited selected manufacturers to verify information provided during the procurement exercise.
The next stage involves obtaining approval to award the contracts. Udeh noted that the process would require further FEC clearance because of the substantial funding involved. The government has not disclosed the selected manufacturers, contract values or technical specifications of the four satellites.
Satellites Intended to Serve Regional Markets
The government intends the proposed satellites to provide services to Nigeria and other African countries interested in accessing their capabilities. Udeh said this could create opportunities for partnerships and revenue generation. The minister made the comments in the context of ASEICC 2026, which is expected to bring together African space agencies and international partners to discuss cooperation and the development of the continent’s space sector.
He described the conference as a platform for countries to review progress, exchange experiences and assess commitments made during previous engagements. Rather than serving as an enforcement mechanism, the forum is intended to encourage collaboration between national space programmes. Udeh also highlighted the need for African countries to move beyond relying on foreign companies to manufacture their satellites and develop local capacity to design and produce spacecraft within the continent.
Nigeria Advances Plans for a Satellite Propulsion Facility in Epe
Nigeria is also taking steps towards establishing a satellite propulsion and transportation facility in Epe, Lagos State. Udeh said the development followed a recommendation from the previous ASEICC conference for the country to establish its own satellite launch facility. Lagos State has allocated land in Epe for the proposed facility, which the minister said is progress toward the recommendation.
Udeh said the initiative forms part of Nigeria’s plans to manufacture satellites and launch them from within the country. The minister also placed the developments within the wider African space economy, which he valued at more than USD 25 billion, with an annual growth rate of 7.97%. ASEICC 2026 will provide the next platform for African space agencies and international partners to discuss progress on these initiatives and further cooperation across the continent’s space sector.