The National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA says Nigeria did not seek or receive any financial grant from the United Kingdom for its space programmes.
Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Seidu Mohammed stated this in Abuja while debunking a claim that the country has approached UK for space grants.
He acknowledged that Nigeria and a UK based satellite company, SSTL, went into partnership in 2002 to build and launch Nigeriasat-1, Nigeriasat-2 and Nigeriasat-X, but noted that the partnership never translated into granting Nigeria a grant by the UK.
He further describing the claim as false, saying that the relationship between Nigeria and UK with regards to space programmes has purely been on a commercial basis and never on grant.
“NASRDA has not at any time received financial aid or grant from the UK for space programme, besides the existing cordial relationship established with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), a UK based company, in our quest for the utilization of space and science technology for the socio-economic development of our nation. Let me say point blank here that the partnership has been purely on a commercial basis”, said Dr. Mohammed.
The NASRDA boss further stated that the country has been reaping bountifully from its satellites, adding that such claims that Nigeria received grant for its space programme was meant to distract the country from its space technology advancement drive.
