Agbakoba Launches Compendium on Space Laws, Treaties, Regulations

Wale Igbintade

As part of his efforts to advance the space sector and knowledge, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has launched a book titled: ‘OAL Compendium of Space Treaties, Policies, Laws and Regulations in Nigeria’.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Collins Okeke, an associate partner and head of Public Sector Practice Group, Olisa Agbakoba Legal, (OAL), described the book as a reference material that brings together all major international treaties and domestic laws on space that affects Nigeria as a major actor in the space industry in Africa and as a developing global giant in the space industry.

He said the book would serve as a research tool for lawyers, students, and those who are interested in what is going on in the space industry.

According to him, “The Compendium will also help to strengthen the legal, institutional, and regulatory framework that governs space activities in Nigeria.

He said a short introductory summary is provided at the beginning of each treaty, policy, law and regulation to give the reader a panoramic view and a roundup of the focal interests of the instrument before going into the key provisions.

Okeke recommended the book for space enthusiasts who are desirous of knowing how activities in Nigerian space and worldwide are governed and regulated.

He said: “A lot of people do not take

interest in what is going on in the space. The current global system of delivery services into our mobile phones might soon loss relevance to space industry. The laws that regulate space is very different from the laws that regulate activities on earth in the sense that there are no territories in the space. On earth, you have jurisdictions and laws that govern territorial boundaries. The space affects all, and everybody must be interested in space activities.

“OAL has a long history of working with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the National Assembly, policymakers, and in particular, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to help strengthen the legal, institutional, and regulatory framework that governs space activities in Nigeria.

“This includes reviewing and analyzing the current space policy and developing a new policy that covers more aspects of space activities, (e.g. military policy, public policy, commercial policy); harmonising national laws with principles in international law, and ensuring all areas/aspects of space activities are covered by domestic legislation.

“The book is a response to the call from numerous students, legal practitioners, professionals, investors, intending investors, and all Nigerians for a single enterprise in my cycling session reference material that will bring together all major international treaties and domestic laws on space that affects Nigeria as a major actor in the Space industry in Africa and as a developing global giant in the space industry. Hence, the book contains The Outer Space Treaty; The Moon Agreement; The Liability Convention; The NASRDA Act; The 2015 NASRDA Regulation; among other treaties, laws, policies, and regulations.

“This will also suffice for a reader whose sole interest is gaining an idea of the instrument as against the detailed provisions of the instrument. Consequently, this compendium is both beginner-friendly and detailed reference material for professionals in law and other fields.”