Reps pass bill to boost local drone manufacturing in Nigeria

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a legal framework for the development, promotion and industrialization of Nigeria’s drone industry.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers, aims to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported drone technology by encouraging local research, design, production and commercialisation.

Presenting the bill during plenary on Wednesday, one of its co-sponsors, Hon. Satomi Ahmad, said the proposed law would provide the legal and institutional structures required to build and strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous drone industry.

Ahmad explained that the legislation was designed to support local capacity in drone technology and create an enabling environment for the industry to grow.

The bill’s passage for second reading marks another step in the legislative process towards establishing a framework that could promote domestic drone production and expand the industry’s contribution to Nigeria’s technological and industrial development.

He said the bill aimed to strengthen local content and technical capacity, attract investment, create jobs and position Nigeria as a competitive regional and international hub for drone manufacturing and related services.

Ahmad lamented that Nigeria’s dependence on imported technology limited opportunities for local innovation, job creation and industrial growth.

He said the absence of coordinated support for local manufacturing and commercialisation could prevent indigenous enterprises from turning promising ideas into viable products.

The lawmaker urged his colleagues to support the bill, which he said sought to address the challenges through targeted incentives, government procurement preferences, innovation funding and local-content requirements.

He expressed optimism that the legislation would help transform Nigeria from a consumer of drone technology into a producer of indigenous solutions, skilled professionals and competitive industrial products.

According to him, successful implementation of the proposed law could stimulate investment, create employment, strengthen national security and open new markets for Nigerian innovation.

“The future belongs to nations that can transform technological innovation into industrial capacity, economic prosperity and national security,” Ahmad said.

He noted that drone technology was increasingly important in agriculture, infrastructure development, emergency response, scientific research and defence.

“Nigeria must therefore move beyond dependence on imported technology towards developing its own capacity to design, manufacture and commercialise drones,” he said.

Ahmad added that the bill provided safeguards for aviation safety, cybersecurity, data protection and national security while preserving the statutory responsibilities of relevant regulatory and defence authorities.

He said the proposed legislation contained 49 clauses divided into 12 parts and was designed to build a competitive indigenous drone industry through local manufacturing, research, investment, technology transfer and skills development.

Among its provisions, the bill seeks to establish a National Drone Industrialisation Council to coordinate policies, targets, incentives, partnerships, industrial zones and export development.

It also proposes the development of a National Drone Industrialisation Policy within 12 months of the law’s enactment, with measurable targets for local content, employment, research, manufacturing and exports.

The proposed legislation further provides for performance-based incentives, including customs and import-duty concessions, research and development tax credits, accelerated capital allowances, grants, concessionary financing, certification support and infrastructure and investment assistance, subject to specified conditions.

Following a voice vote, the bill was passed for second reading and referred to the relevant committee for further legislative consideration.

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