Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward structuring its rapidly expanding drone ecosystem with the commencement of a national policy direction for the unmanned aviation industry. The move follows a directive by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, mandating the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to begin developing a comprehensive policy framework to guide Unmanned Aerial Systems operations nationwide.
The national policy direction is designed to complement the existing Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems regulation under Nig. CARs Part 21. However, its broader aim is to bring coherence to a sector that has grown quickly following a liberalised registration and oversight regime introduced by the current administration. That approach deliberately positioned drones as a tool for job creation, innovation and youth participation across multiple economic sectors.
Across Nigeria, drones are increasingly deployed for agricultural spraying, aerial surveys, infrastructure inspection, filmmaking and digital content production. Meanwhile, this rapid adoption has exposed regulatory and commercial gaps that a structured national policy direction is expected to address. By defining roles, responsibilities and operational pathways, the framework seeks to ensure safe growth while unlocking the industry’s full commercial potential.
The approval to proceed with the policy framework emerged from recommendations contained in the Dronetecx 2024/2025 conference report. The document highlighted the need for coordinated development, clearer stakeholder engagement and long-term planning to prevent fragmentation within the sector. Therefore, the national policy direction is expected to act as a strategic anchor for regulation, investment and innovation in Nigeria’s unmanned aviation space.
Globally, the urgency of this initiative is underscored by the accelerating shift toward Advanced Air Mobility. Unmanned Aircraft Systems are increasingly reshaping aviation, logistics, security and urban transportation. Market projections indicate that the global UAV sector reached an estimated value of USD 41.27 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow significantly through 2034. Consequently, Nigeria’s decision to formalise a national policy direction aligns with global aviation trends rather than reacting to them.
To drive the process, a multi-agency committee has been constituted involving the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. In addition, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency are participating to ensure security, safety and operational integrity. The committee is working closely with the NCAA Flight Standards Group to align the framework with international best practice and Nigeria’s strategic interests.
According to Mr Fortune Idu, Chairman of Dronetecx and coordinator of the national framework initiative, extensive engagement is already underway at both local and international levels. He disclosed that a National Roadmap covering 2026 to 2036 has been developed to guide implementation. The roadmap has reportedly been submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization and integrated into Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Master Plan, signalling strong institutional commitment to the national policy direction.
In addition, the framework has entered an international benchmarking phase. Recently, Nigerian stakeholders participated in an exchange programme with European counterparts during a workshop hosted at Munich Airport International. The engagement focused on UAS operations, regulatory structures and future use cases, bringing together German and Nigerian experts to explore scalable and safe unmanned aviation systems.
Ultimately, the national policy direction is expected to reposition Nigeria as a regional leader in unmanned aviation. By moving beyond regulation alone and embracing coordinated policy planning, the country is laying the foundation for a drone industry that supports economic growth, technological innovation and long-term aviation sustainability.
