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By Chinenye Anuforo
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have entered into a strategic partnership to deploy geospatial intelligence in the fight against crime and strengthen regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s expanding space sector.
The collaboration was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, highlighted the growing importance of space-based and geospatial technologies in crime prevention, national security and accountability.
Speaking at the event, Adepoju described the partnership as a critical step towards enhancing enforcement of national space regulations, improving spectrum management and strengthening oversight of activities within Nigeria’s rapidly growing space ecosystem.
In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications of NASRDA, Dr. Felix Ale, the Director-General said the Agency was proud to collaborate with the EFCC to ensure that both local and international operators in Nigeria’s space sector comply fully with existing laws and regulatory frameworks.
Describing the MoU as a milestone for justice and accountability, Dr. Adepoju noted that effective regulation of the space sector has direct implications for national security. He identified illegal mining as a major contributor to insecurity across the country, stressing that NASRDA remains committed to regulating operators across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the sector to guarantee full legal compliance.
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According to him, the EFCC is well positioned to support this mandate, given the Commission’s leadership, institutional capacity and track record under its current Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede.
Adepoju said NASRDA would deploy advanced space and geospatial technologies to support the EFCC’s operations, enabling more efficient investigations and enforcement in line with international best practices.
He added that the partnership marked the beginning of a new chapter for both institutions, promising stronger enforcement, improved national security and a more transparent and compliant space sector.
In his remarks, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, described the MoU as a clear demonstration of the power of inter-agency collaboration in strengthening institutional capacity and improving mandate delivery.
He said a functional partnership between NASRDA and the EFCC would serve as a model for other ministries, departments and agencies, encouraging cooperation as a pathway to better governance and national development.
Olukoyede explained that under the agreement, NASRDA would provide advanced technologies to enhance the EFCC’s investigative and asset-tracking capabilities, while the Commission would leverage its expertise to maximise the Agency’s fraud-risk intelligence and regulatory effectiveness.
