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The Nigerian government has launched the Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Laboratory, a facility designed to drive innovations in drone technology aimed at enhancing national security and agricultural productivity.
The ceremony, held in Abuja on Thursday, was attended by senior officials from the space and technology sectors, including the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and the Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr. Matthew Adepoju.
Speaking at the event, Nnaji highlighted the significance of the laboratory as a critical step toward advancing Nigeria’s capabilities in unmanned aerial systems, or drones.
He stressed that the lab would contribute to a wide range of applications, including monitoring security threats, tracking agricultural outputs, and improving revenue collection.
“This lab will help us monitor gas leakages, detect pipeline vandalism, and enhance revenue generation by monitoring ships entering the country,” Nnaji said.
“More than 80 per cent of ships that come into Nigeria don’t pay the required fees because we lack the means to monitor them. But with satellites and drones, we will be able to see all these things,” he added.
The lab also aims to address challenges in precision agriculture.
Nnaji explained that UAVs could be used to apply insecticides and fertilisers more efficiently, thereby boosting crop yields.
He pointed out that similar technologies have been employed successfully in countries like Israel, where high-tech solutions have led to significant improvements in agricultural output.
“We can map farmlands, identify areas with nutrient deficiencies, and apply treatments precisely where they are needed. This will revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria,” he said.
The Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, also expressed his optimism about the lab’s potential.
He discussed the broader goals of Nigeria’s space programme, including the full commercialisation of space technologies.
Adepoju noted that the collaboration between NASRDA, Nigeria Communication Satellite, and the Defence Space Administration would strengthen Nigeria’s space capabilities, helping to address pressing national challenges.
“We are forging a new relationship in our space ecosystem. By working together, we can better serve Nigeria and ensure that our space technologies benefit sectors like security, agriculture, and even environmental monitoring,” he said.
He highlighted one of the most exciting prospects: the use of UAVs in environmental monitoring, including the detection of natural disasters such as earthquakes.
According to Adepoju, with the new satellite and UAV capabilities, Nigeria will be better equipped to predict and respond to seismic activities and other environmental hazards.
The Director and Coordinator of the AUAVL project, Dr. Akachukwu Chichebe, emphasised the laboratory’s focus on indigenous innovation.
He explained that the lab would design and manufacture UAVs locally, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and ensuring that Nigeria could maintain control over its technological developments.
“The idea is to do things ourselves. By doing so, when something breaks down, we can fix it. We are following the Presidential Directive of Executive Order 5, which encourages Nigerians to develop their solutions,” he said.
Chichebe further explained that while the laboratory sources some materials from abroad, much of the work, particularly the drone bodies, is locally produced using Nigeria’s abundant raw materials.
The new UAV lab is expected to support Nigeria’s growing space sector, which has made significant strides under the current administration.
Nnaji praised President Bola Tinubu for his continued support of space-related activities, noting that the approval of key initiatives, such as the launch of multiple observation satellites, would help position Nigeria as a leading player in space exploration.
