By John Ikani
The Federal Government of Nigeria says plans have reached an advanced stage to launch another Nigeria Communications Satellite to orbit.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami stated this while briefing journalists yesterday, during a tour of facilities at the agency’s base in Abuja.
Pantami who said he had secured the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to purchase another Communications satellite for the country, added that the new satellite would boost the nation’s satellite communications capacity, as well as the economy.
He also disclosed that he had gone further to lobby the Minister of Finance to ensure that this is included in the 2022 budget.
Though the Minister refused to disclose the amount approved and how many satellites are to be purchased, Heritage Times gathered that the Federal Government earmarked the sum of N2.5 billion for the Satellite 2 project in the 2022 budget estimate.
The existing Sat1R, which was launched in 2011 with a life span of 15 will expire in the next four years.
Recall that the Federal Government had in 2017 announced plans to raise $550m required for the construction of two new communications satellites for Nigeria, which the Chinese Export and Import Bank accepted to provide.
According to NIGCOMSAT, the approval of the Chinese bank followed representation by Nigeria that it could not afford the 15 per cent counterpart funding required for the country to access the loan of $550m for the construction of the two new communications satellites.
Also, the Minister said he had approved the establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT, as part of the ongoing effort to revive the institution to the path of progress and productivity.
‘‘Since 2019, I have been so passionate about the success of NIGCOMSAT. Starting with the suspension of the privatization of NIGCOMSAT.
“As a matter of fact, I have secured the approval of Mr President for purchasing of another Satellite. I went further to lobby the Minister of Finance to ensure that this is included in the 2022 budget.
“I have also approved establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT as part of efforts to revive the company and make it innovative and productive,” he said.
Pantami, who told the staff of the company that the innovation in the agency was not enough and needed to be improved upon, charged them to turn the institution around in order to justify the suspension of the proposed privatization plan.
The Minister said, “You need to turn things around through the unique and effective service you are able to provide and revenue you generate for the government.
“It is a difficult task to revive an institution and make it very successful, that you must make. The challenge of reviving NIGCOMSAT is not just a necessity but an obligation for all the staff.”
