Nigeria has approved a plan to build two next-generation communication satellites with manufacturers from France and Israel, a move set to reshape the country’s satellite capacity ahead of a looming 2028 deadline.
Federal Executive Council Gives the Go-Ahead
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, alongside the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), confirmed that the Federal Executive Council has approved the acquisition and deployment of two new satellites, NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B. The satellites will be delivered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales Alenia Space of France, a French-Italian joint venture.
With approval secured, NIGCOMSAT said the project now moves into formal engagement with the two technology partners, followed by contract finalisation and technical planning ahead of manufacture, launch, and eventual deployment. The overall program is reported to be valued at more than $2 billion.
Replacing an Ageing Satellite Before It Runs Dry
The new satellites are designed to replace Nigeria’s current Chinese-built satellite, which is approaching the end of its operational life. Officials have framed the timeline around a 2028 capacity cliff, when the existing satellite is expected to run low on station-keeping fuel. Launch is planned in two phases, with the first satellite targeted for the end of 2028 and the second expected in 2029 or 2030.
The decision to award the contract to a French-Italian venture and an Israeli state-owned firm, rather than renewing ties with a single existing partner, has been read as a deliberate diversification of Nigeria’s strategic space partnerships.
Part of a Bigger Digital Sovereignty Push
The satellite program fits into a wider push by Communications Minister Bosun Tijani toward technology self-sufficiency. In August, the minister also unveiled Nigeria’s National Digital Cloud Policy, targeting $750 million in cloud infrastructure investment and explicitly framing the country’s ambition as shifting from a technology consumer to a technology producer.
NIGCOMSAT also expects the satellite project to create business and employment opportunities across telecommunications, broadcasting, ground infrastructure, systems integration, and technical services, according to the company’s statement.
Timeline Still Taking Shape
Stephen Kwande, NIGCOMSAT’s Acting Head of Corporate Affairs, said the process has only just started with the FEC approval, noting that discussions around the launch had been ongoing since March. He said the ministry is handling most aspects of the launch planning and partner discussions, with further details expected as contract talks with Thales Alenia Space and IAI progress.
For now, Nigeria’s satellite ambitions rest on two fronts: replacing ageing infrastructure before it becomes a liability, and using the new partnerships to push the country’s broader digital economy goals forward.
