Akpabio Endorses NASRDA’s Role in National Security

…Pledges National Assembly’s Support for Space Agency

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has pledged the unwavering support of the National Assembly to the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), describing the Agency as central to solving Nigeria’s security and socio-economic challenges.

Speaking through Senator Samson Akong at NASRDA’s 2025 Top Management Retreat in Uyo, Akpabio stated: “NASRDA remains the epicenter of solutions to Nigeria’s current socio-economic and security challenges.”

The retreat, themed “Beyond the Horizon: Building a Resilient Workforce for Space Economy and National Security,” brought together stakeholders across government and science sectors at the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement on Thursday by Dr. Felix Ale, Director Media and Corporate Communications at NASRDA, Akpabio emphasized the need for robust investment in space science and technology, warning that Nigeria risks being left behind in the global knowledge economy if strategic action is not taken. “Space-based technologies now drive major socio-economic systems globally,” he said, urging increased resource allocation to the sector.

Highlighting the Agency’s importance to national security, the Senate President advocated closer collaboration between NASRDA and the National Assembly. “Government must leverage NASRDA’s technological expertise to improve national security through real-time surveillance and the monitoring of black spots and ungoverned areas,” he added.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umoh Bassey Eno, represented by Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi, praised the retreat as timely and strategic. He called on NASRDA to deepen its capacity-building efforts.

“This engagement is vital for introspection and goal-setting in line with national development priorities,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, represented by Dr. Robert Ngwu, said the retreat’s focus was both “timely and visionary.”

He added: “Space technology has emerged as a vital arena for asserting national sovereignty, economic security, and technological leadership.”

Dr. Matthew Adepoju, Director General of NASRDA, reiterated the agency’s mission to provide space-based solutions using indigenous talent. “This retreat is about charting a new vision, strengthening internal capacity, and strategically repositioning NASRDA,” he said.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Dr. Felix Ale, described the event as a moment of strategic reflection. “The leadership of the DG continues to inspire excellence within and beyond the Agency,” he remarked.

The retreat reaffirmed NASRDA’s strategic role in advancing Nigeria’s presence in the global digital and space economy, reinforcing its status as a key enabler of national transformation.