- Jirkor Gabriel Msughter PhD*
- Department of Educational Management Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
The fast rate of technological advancement of drone and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology in Nigeria has revolutionized multiple sectors, including agriculture, logistics, surveillance, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and defense. This study examined various diverse applications of UAVs, highlighting their transformative impact on operational efficiency, data collection, and real-time decision-making. Alongside these innovations, the proliferation of drones raises significant regulatory, ethical, and privacy concerns. The study adopted a qualitative and exploratory research design, combining a comprehensive literature review with case analysis to examine the applications and regulatory landscape of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. In Nigeria, the regulation of drones falls primarily under the purview of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which published its Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems framework. While these regulations aim to ensure safety, national security, and airspace control, stakeholders have raised concerns about bureaucratic bottlenecks, limited enforcement capacity, and low awareness among users. Five research questions and five corresponding hypotheses guided the conduct of the study. A researcher designed questionnaire was used to collect data. The instrument was validated by two experts in Measurement and Evaluation in the Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. The reliability of the instrument was established through test re-test method. The reliability indices obtained were; PSV(r = 0.86), DA (r = 0.75) and MI (r = 0.96). Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to answer and test the research questions and hypotheses. The results of the analyses of the hypotheses were tested for statistical significance at .05 alpha levels. This study examines the current regulatory frameworks across various regions, identifying gaps and challenges in enforcement, airspace management, and safety protocols. By analyzing both the opportunities and risks associated with UAV deployment, the study underscores the urgent need for adaptive, comprehensive, and globally harmonized policies to ensure the responsible integration of drones into Nigeria and modern society.
