The Nigerian government, in partnership with the European Union (EU), has inaugurated a £2.7 million Earth Observation (EO)-based agricultural innovation project with the aim of transforming the country’s agriculture sector through space technology and data driven solutions.
The project, jointly implemented by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the European Space Agency (ESA), was designed to enhance climatesmart agriculture, improve productivity and strengthen food security across the country.
Speaking at the inauguration of the project last week in Abuja, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh, described the initiative as a defining moment for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
Represented by permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Mukhtar Yawale, Udeh said noted that agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s economy and livelihoods, facing increasing challenges such as climate change, land degradation, environmental stress, and population growth. They noted that addressing these challenges required a paradigm shift driven by innovation, data and technology.
“This vision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places agriculture at the core of national economic revitalisation. “The administration is committed to achieving food security, reducing import dependence, enhancing value chains and promoting modern, technology-driven agricultural practices,” he said.
According to him, EO technologies provide accurate, timely and scalable data that can improve crop monitoring, environmental risk assessment, land use planning and evidence-based decision-making. In his address, director general of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said the agency had made significant investments in satellite infrastructure, data systems and human capacity over the years.
Adepoju said the true value of space technology was in translating data into practical solutions with measurable impact. “This initiative aligns with all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating strong global partnerships involving African and European institutions,” he said.
For his part, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, said the project, funded under the EU Global Gateway strategy, would run for three years and support farmers and herders with space-based information. Mignot explained that the initiative would deploy modern technologies to promote climate-smart practices, improve livestock management and modernise farming systems.
He further said that EU chose to work with Nigeria because the country was advancing in technology. According to him, the project will help position Nigeria as a hub for agricultural innovation on the continent. Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by the director of Agriculture, Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr Olanipekun Oshadiya, highlighted the importance of satellite imagery in modern agriculture.
He said the technology would enable accurate soil mapping, crop yield forecasting and efficient land-use optimisation. Speaking earlier, the director of Strategic Space Applications, NASRDA, Dr Godstime James, said seven states, which included Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Oyo, Enugu, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT,) had been selected for demonstration farms across Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones.
