Nigeria to launch new satellite this year

Nigeria will launch a new communication satellite (Sat 2) into the orbit this year, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said.  Pantami disclosed this during a one-day working visit and interaction with the staff of the Nigerian Communications Satellite, on Monday. He said he had secured the approval of President […]

Nigeria will launch a new communication satellite (Sat 2) into the orbit this year, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said. 

Pantami disclosed this during a one-day working visit and interaction with the staff of the Nigerian Communications Satellite, on Monday.

He said he had secured the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to purchase another communications satellite for the country. 

The minister said the new satellite would boost the nation’s satellite communications capacity and the economy. 

 He said he had lobbied the Minister of Finance to include this in the 2022 budget.

The government had earmarked N2.5bn for satellite 2 project in the 2022 budget.

Pantami said he had approved establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT as part of the ongoing effort to revive the institution back to the part of progress and productivity.

Speaking on the revolution in NITDA, Pantami said through innovative policies and implementation, he succeeded in raising NITDA revenue from N7bn to N19bn annually.

He said he had also secured the approval of N25bn for the infrastructure upgrade of the National Identity Management Commission.