Insecurity: Reps Push National Drone Policy, Seek Support For Local Manufacturers
The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to adopt a comprehensive national drone industrialisation policy as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity and enhance the country’s response to growing security threats.
The House also called for structured financial support for indigenous drone manufacturers, saying local companies require government backing to scale production and meet the operational needs of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Lagos lawmaker, Ademorin Kuye on the need to develop a strategic drone industrialisation policy for Nigeria..
He noted that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly known as drones, have become indispensable in modern warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance and counter-insurgency operations across the world.
Kuye warned that non-state armed groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, have already incorporated commercial drones into their operations against Nigerian troops, underscoring the urgency of developing indigenous drone manufacturing capacity.
The House mandated its Committees on Defence, National Security and Intelligence, Science and Technology, and Industry and Commerce to work on the development of a National Drone Industrialisation Policy that would provide a clear roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s drone manufacturing sector from its current entrepreneurial stage into a structured, state-supported strategic industry.
The committees were also directed to collaborate with the Nigerian military and relevant government agencies to negotiate technology transfer agreements with reputable international drone manufacturers.
