The House of Representatives has called for the development of a National Drone Industrialization Policy to strengthen Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity and enhance the country’s response to rising security threats.
The House also urged the Federal Government to provide structured financial support to indigenous drone manufacturers, including Beirech UAS, Terra Industries, Elites Group, Pro-force and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), through the Bank of Industry, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other financing platforms to enable them scale production and meet military procurement standards.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ademorin Kuye on the need for a strategic drone industrialisation policy.
Moving the motion, Kuye said Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and pipeline vandalism, have continued to overstretch the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He noted that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have become critical tools for modern warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance and counter-insurgency operations, warning that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have already deployed commercial drones against Nigerian troops.
Kuye, however, said Nigeria had demonstrated its growing capacity in drone technology with the development of the Tsaigumi UAV by the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2018.
He argued that with its pool of engineering talent, expanding technology ecosystem, military-industrial partnerships and Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has the potential to become the continent’s leading drone technology hub if backed by deliberate government policies, funding and legislative support.
The lawmaker expressed concern that despite these advantages, the country’s drone manufacturing industry remains largely private sector-driven, with limited access to capital, inadequate government support and weak technology transfer arrangements hindering its growth.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Defence; National Security and Intelligence; Science and Technology; and Industry and Commerce to develop a National Drone Industrialisation Policy that will provide a roadmap for transforming the sector into a government-supported strategic industry.
The House also directed the Committees on Defence and National Security and Intelligence to work with the military and relevant government agencies to negotiate technology transfer agreements with reputable international drone manufacturers to facilitate the training of Nigerian engineers, localise production and reduce dependence on imported components.
It further tasked the Committees on Defence and Industry and Commerce with collaborating with relevant agencies to establish dedicated Defence Industrial Zones for drone manufacturing, research and maintenance, supported by fiscal incentives, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to attract local and foreign investment.
In addition, the House mandated its Committees on Defence; National Security and Intelligence; Industry and Commerce; Air Force; and Science and Technology to review existing laws on defence procurement, local content, aviation and investment incentives with a view to proposing amendments that would promote drone industrialisation, including tax incentives and stronger intellectual property protection for innovations developed by Nigerian engineers.
The committees were given four weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
