Reps urge FG to adopt drone industrialisation policy to boost defence manufacturing

Nigeria's House of Representatives has called on the federal government to implement a strategic National Drone Industrialisation Policy. The move is intended to significantly enhance the country's defense manufacturing capabilities and decrease its dependence on foreign-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have become indispensable tools of modern warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and counterinsurgency operations globally, and non-state armed groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), are already deploying commercial drones against Nigerian troops

The resolution, sponsored by lawmaker Ademorin Kuye, comes amid persistent security challenges including terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. Kuye emphasized that drones have become essential in modern warfare for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and counter-insurgency operations. He noted with concern that non-state armed groups, such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, are already employing commercial drones against Nigerian forces.

While acknowledging Nigeria's initial steps in drone development, like the Tsaigumi UAV by the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology in 2018, Kuye expressed worry over the limited government support and access to capital for domestic drone manufacturers. He argued that a structured national policy, technology transfer frameworks, and legislative incentives are crucial for scaling operations and developing sophisticated systems.

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the country’s drone manufacturing ecosystem remained largely driven by private companies, with limited access to capital and insufficient government support. According to him, the absence of a structured national policy, a technology transfer framework, legislative incentives, and dedicated defence industrial zones had limited Nigerian drone manufacturers’ ability to scale their operations and develop sophisticated systems capable of meeting the requirements of the Armed Forces.

Kuye believes Nigeria possesses the necessary human and institutional resources, including a strong pool of engineering talent and a growing tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, to become a leading drone technology hub in Africa. He asserted that these advantages can only be fully realized through deliberate government policy, adequate funding, and legislative backing. Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the government to provide structured capital support to Nigerian drone manufacturing companies to meet military procurement standards.

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Nigeria possessed the necessary human and institutional resources to become a major hub for drone technology in Africa. He cited the country’s pool of engineering talent, growing technology entrepreneurship ecosystem, existing military-industrial partnerships and status as Africa’s largest economy as key advantages that could support the development of a competitive domestic drone industry.