Nigerian Satellite Firm to Buy $2 Billion in Communication Satellites from Israel Aerospace and Thales

Nigeria's main satellite company, NIGCOMSAT, is set to purchase two advanced communication satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Franco-Italian group Thales in deals estimated to total around $2 billion. The announcement was made by NIGCOMSAT CEO Jane Agerton-Idahan on LinkedIn, revealing that the acquisitions were approved by Nigeria's Federal Executive Council as part of the country's digital sovereignty strategy. Each company will supply one satellite: IAI will produce the NigComSat-2A satellite, scheduled for launch in 2028, while Thales will provide NigComSat-2B, planned for launch in 2029. The IAI satellite will replace Nigeria's current NigComSat-1R, which is nearing the end of its operational life.

NIGCOMSAT, based in Abuja, has managed Nigeria's satellite communications program for two decades. CEO Agerton-Idahan described the approval as a milestone, emphasizing that deployment will enhance broadband connectivity, support key economic sectors, create new opportunities, and strengthen Nigeria's role in Africa's digital and space economies. IAI has not commented on the reports. The company recently launched the "Dror 1" communication satellite for Israeli government use and has faced challenges after the 2016 Amos-6 satellite explosion and losing a major contract to an American manufacturer.

This new deal could significantly stabilize IAI's satellite communications division under CEO Guy Barlev and Chairman Boaz Levy. Concurrently, IAI is negotiating a nearly $1 billion satellite contract with Azerbaijan. Notably, Africa is a minor market for advanced Israeli defense exports, which totaled a record $19 billion in 2025, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for only about 2% or $400 million of that figure.