President Bola Tinubu has approved the acquisition of four additional satellites as the Federal Government moves to strengthen Nigeria’s space technology capabilities and expand its presence in Africa’s growing space industry.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja ahead of the 2026 African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC).

Udeh said the procurement process had progressed to the stage of recommending successful bidders following an international competitive bidding exercise involving satellite manufacturing companies from China, Israel, Europe, the United States and Nigeria.

He explained that officials from the ministry, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had inspected facilities belonging to some of the participating manufacturers to verify their technical capabilities and other claims.

According to the minister, the next stage involves securing approval to award the contracts, which will also require clearance from the Federal Executive Council because of the significant financial commitment involved.

“The next stage is approval to award the contracts, which will also require Federal Executive Council approval because substantial funding is involved,” he said.

Udeh explained that the proposed satellites would provide services to Nigeria and other African countries interested in accessing their capabilities, creating opportunities for regional partnerships and revenue generation.

He added that the initiative was part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s space infrastructure and develop local expertise in satellite technology.

The minister urged African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign manufacturers by investing in indigenous research, technical knowledge and the capacity to design and manufacture satellites within the continent.

He put the value of Africa’s space economy at more than $25 billion, with an estimated annual growth rate of 7.97 per cent, describing the sector as an important opportunity for investment, innovation and job creation.

Udeh also disclosed that Lagos State had allocated land in Epe for a proposed satellite propulsion and transportation facility, following a recommendation from an earlier edition of the African space conference.

He said the facility would support Nigeria’s long-term ambition to develop the infrastructure required for satellite manufacturing and launch activities within the country.

The minister made the disclosure ahead of ASEICC 2026, scheduled to hold from November 24 to 27 under the hosting of NASRDA. The conference is expected to attract representatives of African space agencies, international partners and other stakeholders in the space technology industry.

He said the gathering would provide an opportunity for countries to assess progress, exchange technical knowledge and explore areas of cooperation in developing Africa’s space capabilities.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that he would not shield his father if he were found guilty of kidnapping, insisting that anyone convicted of the crime must face the full consequences of the law.

The governor made the statement while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other security threats in the state.

Okpebholo said his position on the crime was uncompromising, stressing that family ties would not influence his response if a relative were implicated and convicted.

He reportedly stated that he would personally sign his father’s death warrant if the older man were convicted of kidnapping, using the example to emphasise that nobody would be above the law under his administration.

The governor’s comments come amid concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Edo State, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger measures to protect lives and property.

Okpebholo has maintained that his government would continue working with security agencies to confront criminal activities and restore public confidence in the state’s security system.

His administration has also made security a major priority, with commitments to strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies and ensure that those responsible for serious crimes are brought to justice.

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has attributed the recent decline in electricity supply across several parts of the country to maintenance work at power plants, gas supply constraints and damage to critical transmission infrastructure.

Tegbe explained that the challenges had reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid, forcing operators to introduce load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms on Friday, November 6, the minister acknowledged the difficulties the outages had caused households and businesses in affected locations, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

He identified planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s major thermal power plants, as a significant factor behind the reduction in electricity generation. Gas supply difficulties affecting other thermal power stations had further worsened the situation.

The minister also disclosed that the sabotage of key transmission lines had limited the use of alternative routes for delivering electricity to some locations, particularly Lagos.

According to him, the government is working with relevant power sector operators to restore affected generating units in phases, improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to damaged infrastructure.

Tegbe expressed optimism that the first affected generating units would return to service within 48 to 72 hours, adding that electricity supply was expected to improve gradually as the interventions progressed.

The outages have affected electricity consumers in several parts of the country, with residents and businesses facing prolonged periods without public power supply. The situation has increased reliance on generators, inverters and solar systems, adding to operating costs amid elevated fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the disruptions have triggered a disagreement between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Ikeja Electric over the causes of recent interruptions recorded on some electricity feeders.

While Ikeja Electric had attributed outages recorded on November 3 and 4 to grid instability, TCN disputed the explanation, blaming inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced hydroelectric generation for the decline in available electricity.

TCN also said most of the interruptions affecting Ikeja Electric’s feeders were linked to load shedding caused by low generation, while others resulted from distribution network issues, maintenance and transmission limitations.

The minister’s assurance comes amid renewed concerns over the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity supply and the persistent challenges facing the power sector.