Nigeria has officially taken charge of the recently launched communication satellite, NigComSat-1r from the contractors, the Chinese Great Wall Industry Corporation.
Speaking at the In Orbit Delivery of the satellite by the president of the corporation, Mr. Yin Liming at the ground station of NigComSat in Abuja, the chairman of the NigComSat governing board and former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun charged ministries, departments and agencies to take full advantage of the new technology to expedite government’s programmes and policies and enhance productivity in the country “I urge all Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, to hook up to NigComSat-1R to take the advantage of this new technology to quicken and expedite governance to the benefit of Nigerians.
He further noted that: “One of the critical objectives of this administration is the need to improve the living conditions of our people by creating economic emancipation and empowerment through ICT, which has remained a viable transformation vehicle for our economic stability, educational growth and social welfare.
“China has been one of our bigger trade partners with whom we have very robust bilateral relationship. That this satellite was replaced at no cost to Nigeria testifies to the faith and confidence that country has in Nigeria.”
Professor Isoun said the federal government has made plans to acquire NigComSat 2 and 3 as back-up to NigComSat 1r to forestall any unforeseen occurrences as in the past. He said: “There is nothing to worry about as government has set in motion to launch NigComSat 2 and 3 as backups to Nigcomsat-1R.”
He said the in-orbit delivery of the satellite marks the beginning of commercial activities of the satellite for the benefit of Nigerians, the African continent and the global community and will help create economic emancipation and empowerment through information and communication technology in the country.
Replaced without additional cost
Meanwhile, President of CGWIC, Yin Liming, while handing over the satellite to Jonathan, said the company kept to its promise of replacing the NIGCOMSAT 1R for Nigeria without any additional cost, adding that the orbit test was completed and acceptance review was successful.
Noting that space development has been prioritised as key national programmes and strategic innovative industry in China, Liming said the company looked forward to cooperating with Nigeria in more programmes like following up communications satellite, space infrastructure programme and making joint efforts for the great expectation of the two nations.
Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the commencement of commercial activities on NigComSat 1R opens several opportunities and gains for the industry stakeholders to bring the benefits of this key ICT infrastructure to end users.
NIgComSat 1R ‘ll enable us meet mandate
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAt, Engr. Ahmed Rufai explained that “the launch on December 19 last year of NigcomSat 1R in Xichnnag, China and the IOD remains to us and all Nigerians a spectacle of history. Nigeria has finally joined the big league in communications satellite service provision as NigComSat 1R boasts of several opportunities with footprints across Africa, part of Europe and Asia.”
He expressed the determination of the agency to go to the next level by providing a satellite platform that would be the pride of all Africans in general and Nigeria in particular
The MD said: “The NIgComSat 1R will enable us to meet our core mandate in covering the entire Africa, part of Europe and Asia with clear, clean and high resolution signals on our foot prints.”
