The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed through second reading a landmark bill seeking to transition Nigeria from a consumer of foreign drone technology into a self-reliant producer capable of designing, manufacturing, and commercializing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to a statement by Udora Orizu, Special Assistant on Press Affairs to the Deputy Speaker, the proposed legislation—titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Development, Promotion, and Industrialisation of the Nigerian Drone Industry; and for Related Matters”—is sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, alongside 12 other lawmakers.
The bill was passed via a voice vote presided over by the leadership and subsequently referred to the relevant House committee for further legislative action.
Leading the debate on its general principles, co-sponsor Hon. Satomi Ahmad explained that the legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to govern Nigeria’s emerging drone sector.
Hon. Ahmad emphasized that over-reliance on imported technology severely limits local innovation, job creation, and industrial expansion. Without structured government backing for manufacturing and commercialization, local entrepreneurs struggle to scale promising ideas into market-ready products.
The future belongs to nations that can transform technological innovation into industrial capacity, economic prosperity, and national security. Drone technology is increasingly vital to agriculture, infrastructure, emergency response, scientific research, and defense. Nigeria must move beyond dependence on imported technology towards developing its own capacity to design, manufacture, and commercialize drones.
Hon. Satomi Ahmad
Comprising 49 clauses divided into 12 parts, the bill introduces targeted measures to drive industrial growth while maintaining regulatory oversight:
National Drone Industrialisation Council: Establishes a centralized body to coordinate policy, targets, incentives, strategic partnerships, industrial zones, and export development.
12-Month National Policy: Mandates the formulation of a National Drone Industrialisation Policy within one year of enactment, setting clear metrics for local content, employment, research, and export targets.
Performance-Based Incentives: Introduces customs and import-duty concessions, R&D tax credits, accelerated capital allowances, grants, concessionary financing, and certification assistance for local manufacturers.
National Security & Regulation: Incorporates stringent safeguards for aviation safety, cybersecurity, data privacy, and national defense, ensuring full synergy with existing regulatory authorities.
Hon. Ahmad urged his colleagues to support the bill, expressing confidence that its passage will attract foreign and domestic investment, create high-skilled employment, bolster national security, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for UAV technology in Africa.
