BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Chief Executive Officer of FCI International Limited and Chairman of the Aviation Business Summit and Expo (ABSE), Mr Fortune Idu, has said that Nigeria’s fast-expanding drone ecosystem is drawing urgent regulatory attention as industry pressure has galvanised various government agencies to collaboratively close safety gaps, broaden oversight and embed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into national aviation planning.
He added that this move has become imperative as the sector’s rapid evolution has outpaced early projections.
He stated these at a recent drone seminar in Lagos.
According to him, what began as a fringe community of enthusiasts has quickly matured into a visible industry bloc influencing policy conversations at the highest levels.
Idu noted that early engagements attracted only a handful of participants, but have since grown into credible platforms producing research and recommendations now shaping regulatory outcomes.
“The response has been spontaneous. What we thought would take years is happening much faster because stakeholders are now actively contributing to how the industry should be structured,” he said.
Central to that shift is the increasing reliance by authorities on industry-generated reports addressing operational risks, safety concerns, and long-term growth pathways.
According to Idu, these submissions, drawn from operators, regulators, and technical experts, have helped reframe drones from a peripheral issue into a policy priority.
One immediate outcome was the release of operational guidelines for UAVs under the Part 21 regulatory framework, which provided long-awaited clarity for commercial operators.
But while the regulation marked a breakthrough, it also exposed deeper structural challenges.
“The regulation came, but then the bigger question followed. are we capturing everyone? Are we building the industry in a coordinated way?” Idu said.
Those concerns have intensified calls for a unified policy framework to guide development, prevent fragmentation, and align Nigeria’s drone ambitions with global standards.
Aviation authorities, he disclosed, are now working toward that goal, signalling a transition from reactive regulation to proactive planning.
A major milestone in that transition is the full integration of UAVs into Nigeria’s Aviation Master Plan, an upgrade from their previous near-absence in official policy documents.
Idu described the earlier situation as “token recognition,” noting that drones were once confined to a few lines in broader aviation policy.
“That has changed completely. We now have a comprehensive roadmap that defines where the industry is headed,” he said.
The roadmap is expected to guide investments, standardise operations, and unlock opportunities in areas such as surveillance, mapping, agriculture, and emergency response, sectors where drone technology is increasingly critical.
However, even as policy catches up with innovation, regulators are grappling with a major blind spot: the surge in informal and recreational drone use across the country.
From hobbyists capturing aerial footage to young users flying drones for leisure, a significant portion of operators remains outside formal oversight.
Industry experts warn that this gap poses real risks, particularly in urban areas and near sensitive infrastructure, where unregulated drone activity could compromise safety or security.
Idu acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that existing regulations have largely focused on licensed, professional operators while overlooking the “open category” of low-level users.
“These are people flying drones in everyday environments, parks, events, neighbourhoods, but they were not fully captured in the system,” he said. “That creates exposure.”
To address this, aviation authorities are considering a simplified registration process designed to bring recreational users into a basic compliance framework without stifling access or innovation.
The approach, according to Idu, is to prioritise identification and awareness before enforcement.
“You cannot regulate what you have not documented. The first step is to bring them into the system, let them know the rules, and then ensure compliance,” he said.
The proposed system is expected to combine digital registration with public awareness campaigns, targeting casual users who may be unaware of existing guidelines or the risks associated with improper drone use.
Analysts say this move could significantly improve airspace safety while giving regulators a clearer picture of drone activity nationwide, an essential requirement for effective oversight as usage continues to rise.
Beyond regulation, stakeholders are also pushing for stronger institutional coordination to prevent what Idu described as “non-directional growth,” where different segments of the industry evolve independently without a shared framework.
Such fragmentation, he warned, could undermine long-term development and limit Nigeria’s ability to compete in the global drone economy.
Despite these challenges, industry leaders remain optimistic, pointing to the speed and scope of recent progress as evidence that the sector is on a solid trajectory.
In just a few years, Nigeria’s drone ecosystem has moved from obscurity to structured engagement, with clear signs of policy alignment and institutional support.
For Idu, that progress underscores the value of collaboration between government and industry.
“We brought stakeholders together, created a platform for engagement, and pushed for solutions. What you are seeing today is the result of that collective effort,” he said.
As authorities refine policies and expand oversight, the next phase will test the industry’s ability to balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that growth is not only rapid, but also safe, coordinated, and sustainable.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
