By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has called for the development of a National Drone Industrialisation Policy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and improving the country’s ability to respond to rising security threats.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to provide targeted financial support to local drone manufacturers, including Beirech UAS, Terra Industries, Elites Group, Pro-force and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), through the Bank of Industry, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other financing platforms to help them expand production and meet military procurement standards. 
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Ademorin Kuye on Wednesday during plenary.
Nigeria has continued to battle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other forms of violent crime, prompting increasing calls for the deployment of advanced technology to support military and security operations. Globally, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have become indispensable tools for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision operations. In recent years, security experts have also warned that non-state actors, including terrorist organisations, are increasingly deploying commercial drones during attacks, underscoring the need for Nigeria to strengthen its domestic production capacity.
Debating the motion, Rep. Kuye said the country’s worsening security situation had placed enormous pressure on the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He noted that drones have become vital assets in modern military operations, adding that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have already incorporated commercial drones into their operations against Nigerian troops.
The lawmaker, however, said Nigeria has made notable progress in indigenous drone development, pointing to the successful production of the Tsaigumi Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2018 as evidence of the country’s growing technological capability.
He argued that Nigeria possesses the resources needed to become Africa’s leading drone technology hub if supported by deliberate government policies.
He said: “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.”
Kuye expressed concern that despite the country’s potential, local drone manufacturing remains largely driven by private investors who face limited access to financing, inadequate government support and weak technology transfer arrangements.
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 comprehensive National Drone Industrialisation Policy that would serve as a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s drone manufacturing sector into a strategic, government-backed industry.
Lawmakers also directed the Committees on Defence and National Security and Intelligence to work with the military and relevant government agencies to negotiate technology transfer agreements with reputable international drone manufacturers. The proposed agreements are expected to facilitate the training of Nigerian engineers, encourage local production and gradually reduce the country’s dependence on imported drone components.
The House further tasked its Committees on Defence; Industry and Commerce to collaborate with relevant agencies in establishing specialised Defence Industrial Zones dedicated to drone manufacturing, research and maintenance. The zones are expected to benefit from fiscal incentives, improved infrastructure and supportive regulatory frameworks capable of attracting both local and foreign investors.
The house unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Defence; National Security and Intelligence; Industry and Commerce; Air Force; and Science and Technology to review existing laws governing defence procurement, local content, aviation and investment incentives with a view to introducing amendments that would promote drone industrialisation, including tax incentives and stronger protection for intellectual property developed by Nigerian innovators.
The committees were given four weeks to submit their report for further legislative consideration.
