Description
Since its independence, Nigeria has acted and been portrayed as a regional hegemon in Africa. Nigeria’s influence in Africa is predicated on its oil revenue, economy, and military. However, Abuja’s hegemony is threatened by the unstable global oil price, a weakening economy, and national insecurity. Hence, Nigeria needs an enduring source of power for sustainable influence in Africa.
Research on space capabilities as a source of power (spacepower) has recently gained momentum due to the increasing need for states to effectively act globally and essentially utilise space technology for achieving national goals. One approach for analysing spacepower is Susan Strange’s IPE structural power theory. This approach is especially crucial because it gives a state the power to shape how other states and their institutions must operate through the structures of security, production, knowledge, and finance.
Nigeria has a space agency, satellites in orbit, and a currently built space laboratory and spaceport. These capabilities can be a reliable source (spacepower) for acquiring sustainable power. This study uses the structures of power to analyse Nigeria’s space capabilities and how they can be leveraged to strengthen Abuja’s regional influence and their potential to address domestic challenges. The research uses a qualitative method that combines document analysis and semi-structured interviews to provide answers to research questions.
