Senate Committee Promises Increase Funding for DSA in 2024 Budget

By Iyojo Ameh

Senator Ahmad Lawan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, has pledged increased financial support for the Defence Space Administration (DSA) in the forthcoming 2024 budget.

This commitment was voiced during the DSA’s budget defense session on Thursday, addressing the imperative need for enhanced resources in light of the nation’s evolving security landscape.

Lawan assured the DSA representatives of the committee’s dedication to ensuring optimal functionality in executing their mandate. He emphasized the pivotal role played by the DSA in the country’s security architecture, vowing to collaborate closely to facilitate their operational efficiency.

Recall that in the 2023 fiscal year, the DSA received a total allocation of N6,284,786,717.00, allocated across personnel emoluments, overhead costs, and capital projects. Notably, capital funds were directed towards pivotal projects like the National Defence Space School and bolstering Cyber Space Operations software.

Looking ahead to the 2024 fiscal year, the proposed budget for the DSA stands significantly higher at N10,756,136,620.83.

However, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Abdullahi Shinkafi, Chief of Defence Space Administration, expressed concerns regarding the inadequacy of proposed capital expenditure. Shinkafi stressed the critical need for increased financial resources to support essential operational aspects such as satellite imagery and intelligence surveillance equipment.

The Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Major General Emmanuel Ndagi, echoed similar sentiments about budgetary constraints affecting the Bureau’s annual allocations.

Despite acknowledging the Senate Committee’s efforts to address these limitations, Ndagi highlighted the challenges faced by the Bureau due to fixed budget ceilings.