Nigeria’s National Space Research & Development Agency (Nasdra) has condemned the nation’s satellite policy as “incompetent” and subject to a lack of supervision and commitment.

NASDRA’s director general Prof. Seidu Onailo Mohammed says it is “disturbing” that 97 per cent of the satellites covering Africa are foreign owned, and earning “millions” for their foreign investors. He urged Nigeria’s government to take an urgent look at how it allocated space resources.

“Investment in space technology, particularly communication satellites can reel out immense economic development for any nation”, he said.

In a statement released by Nasdra, the organisation said that the existing Nigerian satellite, NigComSat-1R should be transferred to the commercial arm of Nasdra because in the 42 months since its launch “it has not recorded any appreciable achievements or made impact in the lives of the people”.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite