Nigerian will land on the moon by 2030

[Richard Akindele]

The Nigerian government on Wednesday announced that it had drawn up a master plan through which the first Nigerian would "land on the moon by 2030."

Giving details of the plan, which was approved at Wednesday's meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Science and Technology Minister Prof Turner Isuon said a cabinet committee has been established for the purpose.

At a news briefing after the FEC meeting, Isuon told reporters that members of the council committee include the ministers of science and technology, FCT, education, communications and the minister of state for finance.

He said the committee "is to draw up the plan and budget for the actualization of the presidential initiative is also empowered to invite Nigerians in the diaspora who are specialists in space science."

The minister said within the next 25 years, Nigeria would aspire to produce and launch a satellite in the country and also be able to help others achieve a similar goal.

He added that the most populous African country would not go solo on the search for a place in space, adding that through its National Space Research and Development Agency, the federal government hopes to go into partnerships with other nations that were ahead in space.

"As we speak, 55 young engineers are undergoing training on satellite technology in China," he said, adding that the government was planning to establish the needed institutions and infrastructure for the program.

"There will be a year by year plan, and capacity would be developed," he said, noting that by the end of 2007, between 60 and 70 satellite engineers would have been fully trained and ready for the task ahead.

He spoke of plans to develop communications software locally and also manufacture all the facilities needed in space technology such that the nation could also begin to reap huge benefits from space sciences.

The minister said the space plan was for the future and that the federal government was "very serious on this" and was determined to work successfully to actualize it.

Source:Xinhua

[Richard Akindele]

FEDERAL Government yesterday set in motion plans to launch the first made-in-Nigeria satellite by 2018. Ahead of this plan, the country also expects to produce its first astronauts nine years from now.

The development was one of the decisions taken at the Weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Olusegun Obasanjo/with Vice President, Atiku Abubaker in Attendance.

Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, briefed newsmen after the FEC meeting.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government has also approved about N1.83 billion for the supply of communications and military equipment to the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

Speaking on the contracts awarded for the Nigerian Army, the minister, stated that "there was also memo for the procurement of radio equipment for the Nigerian Army awarded at a cost of N623.6 million.

According to the Minister, "The other contract also is for the procurement of logistics items for 103 battalion of the Nigerian Army inducted for the United Nations (UN) Mission in Sudan. All of you know the role that Nigeria is playing as far as peace-keeping mission is concerned in the African continent, particularly now in the Sudan where the contribution of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army is applauded and appreciated by everybody.

"So when we sent our army to this kind of thing, it is our responsibility and duty to make sure that they have all the equipment that they require to make us proud. The cost of this contract is for the supply of ammunition (N778 million), communication equipment (N174.9 million ), 10 4 by 4 jeeps (N70.6 million), 4 truck tankers (N50 million) and 2 bulldozers (N130 million)", he added

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Turner Isoun on his part, noted that "the 25-year plan has the objective that we should be able to produce a Nigerian astronaut by 2015. We should be able to launch a satellite manufactured in Nigeria by 2018, and we should be able to launch a satellite manufactured and made in Nigeria and launched within the territory of Nigeria. Please note that no country has been able to do these things automatically".

He added that "it is expected that in 25 years, Nigeria would have developed the capacity to manufacture, launch a satellite, develop communication software and sell band waves".

Another major highlight of the weekly Federal Executive Council is the directive given by the President that the Petroleum Development Tax Fund (PDTF) provides fund worth N2.50 billion for the supply of science and technological training, learning equipment and laboratory equipment to 102 unity federal schools and 6 federal polytechnics, one each from the six geo-political zones of the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtar Shagari who coordinated the weekly FEC briefing alongside the Ministers of Scince and Technology, Turner Isoun; Education, Chinwe Nora Obaji and Minister of State for Health, Halima Tayo Alao, also stated that approval has been given for the establishment of units and desks in all tiers of Government towards ensuring that the National Policy on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Nigeria becomes a reality.

Source: Daily Champion.

[Richard Akindele]

Instead of all this talk about Nigeria launching satellites, shouldn't we be focusing on the basics of feeding the people first?

Why does Nigeria need satellites at this stage of our development? Who cares if you have satellites in orbit, when most of your population is living poorly.

Who is coming up with these big ideas about space race for Nigeria? I can think of dozens of things that Nigeria and Nigerians are in desperate need of such as running water, good roads, electricity, improved standard of living, quality transportation, healthcare, etc. If you ask a typical Nigerian on the street what he would like the government to take care of, he'd likely list all of the above and more. But I doubt anybody will say they want to see a Nigerian satellite in orbit, especially if they find out how that project costs.

Put Nigeria's resources to better use by creating jobs for thousands of college graduates roaming the streets first, then any talks about expensive high-tech projects would have a meaning.

[Richard Akindele]

Nigeria's ambitious space program has often attracted criticism from those who claim the money is better spent to address poverty in a country where more than 70 percent of the people live on less than $1 a day. Despite the criticism, some officials say space technology is an effective tool to fight poverty.

Nigeria launched its first satellite three years ago, becoming only the second country in sub-Sahara Africa to do so. The other space program in the region is in South Africa.

A communications satellite that will give even remote villagers access to the Internet is to be launched in 2007. A second observation satellite is planned for 2009.

Robert Boroffice, head of the space agency of Nigeria, says Nigeria's space program has been a success.

"So far so good, it is a success story," he said. "We are able to launch an earth observation satellite. We are operating the satellite by ourselves. We are deriving imageries, which we are using for our national projects. We are also selling these images all over the world, very few in Africa, most of them are sold to Europe and America and we have been recognized as a leading space agency in Africa, as a result of which many international organizations and United Nations organizations that need African voice, have been contacting us and inviting us to represent the interest of Africa."

The observation satellite monitors Nigeria's vanishing forest resource and often vandalized oil pipelines as well as a host of other uses including improving agricultural practices. It also watches for natural disasters such as fires and floods.

Nigeria recently outlined a program to land on the moon by 2030.

Professor Boroffice says Nigeria's space initiative has been aggressive.

"We are training people," he said. "We have one of our staff in Italy, doing a Master's in global positioning system. We are in collaboration with other organizations where we train our staff, even in marketing. So, we have put these in place. We have a very aggressive capacity building program because we believe that for these programs to be sustainable, we must have the indigenous capacity to run and manage them."

Nigeria's dream of earning substantial revenue from its space program already appears to be a reality. An Arab company has signed a $250 million deal to use the communications satellite.

Boroffice, a former biology professor, says space technology can lift Nigeria out of poverty by acting as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation.

Source: VOA News