The Practice of Law Is Expanding Beyond the Practice of Law.

One of the most fascinating realities of practicing law across multiple jurisdictions is discovering that innovation is rarely limited by technology, instead, it is often limited by legal imagination.

Over the past several years, my work has taken me from advising firms in Nigeria on corporate governance and complex transactions in highly regulated industries, to supporting aerospace innovation initiatives in Europe, and more recently to my work in the United States.

Operating across these systems quickly reveals something important: different jurisdictions regulate risk in fundamentally different ways.

Some systems attempt to contain innovation within existing legal frameworks. Others deliberately design regulatory structures that allow entirely new industries to emerge.

In my opinion, neither approach is inherently wrong. But the consequences for economic growth, technological leadership, and market participation can be profound.

This is where the role of the lawyer becomes more than technical interpretation.

At its best, legal counsel operates at the intersection of law, policy, and business strategy, translating complex regulatory environments into practical guidance that allows organizations to move forward with confidence, implications of which are dire.

Cross-border work also reveals another truth that often gets overlooked: Good lawyers understand the law. Exceptional lawyers understand the systems behind the law.

And in sectors such as aerospace, satellite technology, and other emerging industries, that distinction increasingly matters. But that's a conversation for another day.

As more jurisdictions begin to develop regulatory frameworks for new industries, the next decade will likely test not only the ingenuity of engineers and entrepreneurs  but also the foresight of legal systems and the lawyers helping shape them. 

So, innovation will happen. Innovation is happening.

But the more uncomfortable question is this: will legal systems enable innovation or will regulation quietly determine which nations get to build the future? 

SPACE REGULATIONS AND THE WAY TO DO SPACE!

Some reflective thought on the future of space regulation in Nigeria.

 

 

So we are on the same page, we have the National Space Research and Development Agency Act (NASRDA Act) of 2010 and the Draft Regulations on Licensing and Supervision borne out of the need to involve private enterprises in space activities. The Regulation was enacted in 2015 and activated by the Buhari administration in 2021. This framework aims to ensure that Nigeria’s emerging space activities are conducted safely, responsibly, and in accordance with international standards. The Draft Regulations on Licensing and Supervision, though promising, remain incomplete, straining under the weight of an evolving space ecosystem.

The backbone of the 2015 NASRDA Regulations on Licensing and Supervision of Space Activities is Section 4(1), which mandates that no one “shall carry out activities to which the Regulations apply except under the authority of a license granted by the National Space Council.” This sweeping requirement covers a broad range of entities including “Corporations registered in Nigeria with ownership of space object(s)” and “Operators and manufacturers of space object(s) and launch vehicles within Nigerian territory” as outlined in Section 1. The regulation has a far-reaching effect as it covers all space activities carried out in Nigeria or on a Nigerian aircraft or boat. This means activities like satellite launches, satellite operations, remote sensing, space tourism, space debris removal, and spaceflight operations now compulsorily require a license from the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

 

Even with these regulations, there are still lacunas in the Nigerian space ecosystem. 

One glaring omission lies in the clarity of liability allocation. The Act recognizes Nigeria’s obligations under international treaties like the Liability Convention, yet fails to offer comprehensive guidance on indemnification and recourse mechanisms. While the Draft Regulations set caps on liabilities for private operators, these thresholds—though pragmatic for a developing nation—risk inadequacy in the face of catastrophic incidents. Additionally, there is little provision for scenarios where claims exceed insured amounts, potentially burdening the government with unmanageable responsibilities.

Another gap exists in the regulatory scope over modern and emerging space activities. The NASRDA Act focuses heavily on satellite data and remote sensing, reflecting the priorities of its time. However, with the advent of new technologies like space mining, in-orbit manufacturing, and commercial human spaceflight, the Act does not adequately address these frontiers. Without proactive updates, Nigeria risks falling behind in the global space race, unable to regulate or benefit from cutting-edge innovations.

Furthermore, the Act and Draft Regulations adopt a licensing regime but provide limited detail on the procedural transparency and enforcement mechanisms. How disputes between the government and private operators will be resolved remains murky. Similarly, provisions for environmental protection in space—such as the mitigation of space debris or preventing contamination—are sparse, reflecting a gap in addressing broader international concerns.

Another lacuna is the absence of detailed funding and resource allocation strategies to oversee private space activities. The NASRDA, originally conceived as a research institution, now bears the monumental task of regulating a burgeoning space sector. Without clear funding mechanisms, the agency risks being under-resourced, and unable to effectively execute its expanded mandate.

These gaps reveal a pressing need for reform in the grand tapestry of Nigeria’s space ambitions. As the nation charts its course among the stars, its legal framework must evolve, not just to meet its international obligations but also to nurture a thriving domestic space industry.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

As Nigeria aspires to join the prestigious lineup of rising space faring countries, the 2015 Regulations on Licensing and Supervision of Space Activities signal the nation’s determination to achieve its ambitious space goals by upholding the loftiest international standards. With its signature on forward-thinking international Conventions such as the Artemis Accords, Nigeria must align his domestic regulations to prepare for the years to come.

 

Thank you for taking out time to read and share this post. Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comment box.

Please follow my discussions on my LinkedIn account at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayomide-a-jide-omole-062633112 

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. images on the blog are copyright to its respectful owners. if there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you, and you do not wish for it to appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

 

LETS TALK ABOUT SPACE SHALL WE? AN UPDATE ON THE NIGERIAN SPACE PROGRAMS

Hello and welcome to the blog!

In a previous post, I had written about the Nigerian space program and I am quite impressed by the response this post has gotten and the questions that came up thereafter. So, thank you all very much for reading and for sharing your thoughts.

On today’s post, I would like to give an update about the Nigerian space sector and also address some of the questions I got from the post of the 12^th of May 2020, most of which are criticisms about the inefficiency of the Nigerian space programs and its expenditures which have not yielded any benefits. The following paragraphs should permit the reader to come to their own conclusion as to whether Nigeria needs to continue to advance its space capabilities.

Before going into the questions, I will like to share my thoughts on what I think is most pertinent on the subject matter in a quote. “While Nigeria has a lot to offer Nigerians, Africans and the world in general, it must first overcome its attitude towards change and development and adopt a winning mentality. For this, it must seek to construct a balanced economic system which preserves its great minds and ends the challenges of brain drain with a backdrop to move towards brain gain.”

The recently inaugurated leadership of the National Space Research and Development Agency to consolidate the agency’s operations as well as drive the objectives for establishing the agency. The new acting Director-General who was appointed in May has affirmed his commitment to reviewing the National Space Policy and Strategy and to ensure that the direction of the Nigerian space program is refocused towards its initial objective.

In an interview with Space in Africa, the Acting Director-General said that one of his first duties would be to set up necessary committees with the approval of the agency’s board and legislative council. The new leadership will revise the space document as a form of an evaluation process that will determine the achievements and failings of the policy and how it tallies with current needs and events.

The major thrust of the new policy would be to vigorously pursue the attainment of space capabilities as an essential tool for the socio-economic development of the nation and the advancement of the quality of life for Nigerians. The tripartite policy would focus on building a Nigerian satellite, launching the satellite in Nigeria, and the pursuit of indigenous creation of rockery vehicle that Nigeria will use for the launch of the spacecraft. To this end, in order to achieve this goal, Nigeria must not only propose these changes, it must also embrace the process, embrace its past mistake and learn from them, involve all relevant stakeholders and actually change its approach to achieve these goals which has been set out so that a repetition of the inability to achieve most of the goals on the 25-year strategic map would not be repeated. In this wise, the next section of the work details the conversation between stakeholders in the Nigerian space sector in order to initiate a discussion towards eliminating the challenges faced in this sector.

Following weeks after this inauguration, I was lucky to have spoken to three brilliant minds who hold prominent positions in the Nigerian Space programs and have worked on both domestic and international planes, seen various space dealings, drawing conclusions as to the right approach to promote efficiency and profitability and in the end, we agreed that as Nigeria looks to the future, it must effectively utilize its natural endowments to earn its badge of honor as a space capable country, with an initial focus on the downstream impact of the technology. Thus, it would need to retool its own science and technology (S&T) capabilities and utilize these assets to enhance its economic development and improve the wellbeing of its people.

As I lay conclusions to the preceding paragraphs, I must also suggest further reading on “Nigeria’s space journey- understanding its pasts and reshaping its future” by Dr Adigun Ade Abiodun which has shone the light on the successes and missteps of the Nigerian space programs with a subtle reprimand of those “Who hold the reins of power and, by sheer neglect allowed a promising path bursting with potential to fall into ruin.”

With the points shared, do you still hold the view that Nigeria needs to diversify its funding apportioned to the Nigerian space agency into attaining other sustainable development goals at this time or its approach to further its space capabilities should prevail?

Thank you for taking out time to read and share this post. Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comment box.

Please follow my discussions on my LinkedIn account at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayomide-a-jide-omole-062633112 

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. images on the blog are copyright to its respectful owners. if there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you, and you do not wish for it to appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.