The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited have commenced engagements with Israeli and French manufacturers for the production of two next-generation communications satellites.
The satellites, known as NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, are expected to be produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales Alenia Space of France respectively.
NIGCOMSAT said the project had entered its next phase following approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the acquisition and deployment of the satellites.
In a statement, the company said the next stage would involve formal engagements with the technology partners, contract finalisation and technical planning ahead of the manufacture, launch and deployment of the satellites.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, described the FEC approval as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s satellite sector.
Egerton-Idehen said the project would strengthen the country’s satellite capacity, expand connectivity and support critical communications services.
“Our priority is to translate this investment into measurable value for Nigerians and position NIGCOMSAT for stronger impact within the global satellite and digital economy,” she said.
The Acting Head of NIGCOMSAT’s Corporate Affairs Division, Stephen Kwande, said the launch would be carried out in two phases, with the first satellite expected to be launched by the end of 2028 and the second in 2029 or 2030.
Kwande said the process had only commenced following the FEC approval, adding that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NIGCOMSAT were currently handling engagements with the manufacturers.
According to NIGCOMSAT, the satellites will provide additional capacity for high-capacity broadband, broadcasting, enterprise connectivity, government services and emerging digital applications.
The company said the satellite capacity would complement terrestrial broadband networks by extending connectivity to areas where conventional infrastructure is difficult or costly to deploy.
It added that the project would support digital services in sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, financial services, broadcasting and government.
NIGCOMSAT said the satellites were also expected to strengthen Nigeria’s communications infrastructure and improve access to digital services, particularly in areas with limited terrestrial network coverage.
The project is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to expand digital infrastructure and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global satellite and digital economy.
