According to the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria has the potential to generate $20 million from launching a single satellite by developing its Assembly, Integration, and Testing Laboratory (AITL).
The Director-General of NASRDA, Halilu Shaba, who stated this in an interview with the media said this is achievable if the country develops its Assembly, Integration and Testing Lab (AITL).
According to him, the AITL project is captured in Nigeria’s 25-year Space Policy Roadmap.
Shaba said part of the content of the roadmap, which included launching satellites into orbit from Nigeria, was crucial to the development of space science and technology.
Business Insider Africa earlier listed African countries with satellites in orbit, and Nigeria stands out with a total of six satellites in orbit.
While noting that developing the AITL is a big project that requires huge resources which the Agency’s annual budgetary allocation could barely handle, Shaba said NASRDA has been actively pursuing partnerships with local investors and foreign countries to explore the possibility of initiating the project because the government might not have the sole capacity.
“We are thinking out of the box because it can bring money and we are letting people know that this can bring money. The government can partner with the public on that because for you to launch any satellite, the initial deposit you give for the launch of the satellite minus the kilometres you cover is $20 million to launch one satellite,” Shaba explained.
The Director-General of NASRDA also noted that Nigeria is at an optimal location for satellite launches
"We are situated at the equator, which increases the frequency of launch opportunities and reduces the distance to reach orbit. If Nigeria can become a prominent launch destination and launch around 20 satellites annually, this could potentially yield approximately $400 million," he stated.
The head of NASRDA also mentioned that the agency is actively engaging with other countries due to their expressed interest. He further explained that they are extending proposals to select nations that are interested in Nigeria developing the Assembly, Integration, and Testing Laboratory (AITL) and providing them with access over a designated period.
“They can come and we develop this together, we share the profit, they can launch and as well have a launch pad. Whatever option we are looking at, it has to be to the benefit of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Shaba revealed that the agency was also advancing its expertise in rocketry and propulsion, although the financial returns from these endeavours were relatively modest.
The African space industry is steadily expanding, albeit not at the same pace as its Western counterparts. Nonetheless, the growth is becoming increasingly evident.
As of the end of 2022, the continent had successfully launched at least 52 satellites, according to the consulting firm Space Hubs Africa.