The Nigerian unity government will launch a second satellite (Sat 2) on the route to increase national satellite communications

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Nigeria To Launch 2nd Satellite In Orbit — Pantami

The Nigerian unity government will launch a second satellite (Sat 2) on the route to increase national satellite communications. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, who revealed this during a one-day working trip and working with Nigerian communications satellite operators in Abuja, said he had received permission from President Mohammadu Buhari to purchase the satellite. 

 He also revealed that he had continued to urge the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ms Zainab Ahmed, to ensure that this is included in the 2022 Budget. Although the Minister declined to disclose the mandate and how many satellites would be purchased, it was concluded that the federal government had set aside N2.5 billion for the Satellite 2 project at 2022 budget.

 The existing Sat1R, launched in 2011 with a lifetime of 15, will expire in the next four years. Recall that the coalition government in 2017, announced plans to raise $ 550 million to build two telecommunications satellites in Nigeria, which the Chinese Export and Import Bank has approved to provide. 

 According to NIGCOMSAT, the Chinese bank's approval follows Nigeria's claim that it cannot pay the 15 percent subsidy it needs to land a $ 550m loan to build two satellite communications satellites. institution and make it very effective, which you should do. The challenge of reviving NIGCOMSAT is not just a necessity but a responsibility for all employees, ”he added. 

 Commenting on the NITDA transformation, Pantami said that with new policies and implementation, it has succeeded in raising NITDA revenue from N7 billion to N19 billion annually, an agency that should have been scrapped according to the Oronsaye Report. 

 "We have revitalized NITDA and this organization has become the backbone of any IT operation," Pantami said. Regarding NIMC, the minister said he had also approved N25 billion to develop the organisation's infrastructure. “Look at NIMC and what we have achieved, the status of NIN from the inception of the National Identity Card until 2020 when I started monitoring the commission even after spending billions was less than 30 million, and this direct registration without access to any database . 

 “Before I was under surveillance, annual enrollment used to be 1.5 to 2 million but between October 2020 and December 2021, we increased the NIN environment by 30 million through obsolete infrastructure. 

Mr President has approved N25 billion for infrastructure but to date, no funding has been released from October 2020 to date but we are still working, which is why thinking outside the box is needed. “This year's success has been better than 10 years ago and in those 10 years there has been a release of N100 billion but this one not a single Kobo has been released from us.

 As the DIT of NITDA, I increased NITDA revenue from N7 billion annually to N19 billion. Take advantage of the opportunity and change things. “Before I became the Minister there was an Orunsanye report that suggested that NITDA be abolished and IT approval granted to Galaxy Backbone but today no one is talking about the dissolution of NITDA because the institution has turned things around. “If you change things, you will go back to sleep but if you fail, you will be struggling. their agenda. 

 “2022 is the best year for you to change things but if you fail to do that, it will be a very bad year for you. , "he said.