Reps seek national drone policy to boost local defence production, tackle insecurity

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 aimed at transforming the sector into a structured and government-supported strategic industry.“The House is concerned that Nigeria, with a pool of engineering talent, a growing technology entrepreneurship ecosystem, existing military-industrial partnerships and the largest economy in Africa, possesses the foundational conditions to become the hub for drone technology, provided there is structured government policy, capital and legislative support,” he said.

The lawmakers 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, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other financing platforms.