‘N150bn flies out of Nigeria annually through payment for GSM, digital TV’

Can we have the background of Nigeria SAT-X and NigeriaSAT-2 which you intend to launch next month?

The two satellites will contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. NigeriaSAT-2 is an earth observation satellite. It has 2.5-metre resolution, meaning that the data from the satellite will enable us supervise the various sectors. A country like Nigeria requires periodic update on the state of the environment. We hope that as soon as we launch them, we will be mapping Nigeria every four months so that will create a lot of data on our archives to sell and if possible support researches.

NigariaSAT-X makes us very proud. It was first challenge for Nigerian engineers by government. We are happy to report that by the first week of July, it will be launched and God willing, we will go into the orbit.

SAT-X will contribute to various areas like SAT-2. We expect that there will be tremendous development in agriculture.

Number two: it is the only way we can alert the nation when there is shortfall. From time to time, FAO [Food and Agriculture Organisation] warns us about food production. They are not magicians, they use earth observation satellites.  As we speak, America has 439 satellites in the orbit, Russia has about 100 in the orbit, China has 69 and here in Africa, Egypt has four and Nigeria has only one. So it is our responsibility to educate Nigerians, to know that while we speak on our GSM phones we are speaking on somebody’s communication satellite.

Currently, over $1 billion leaves Nigeria as capital flight annually through payment for GSM, data usage, digital televisions and other data for research and several other things. This amount can be used back home to provide jobs for our people, to build hospitals, schools and other facilities to areas of our economy.

Therefore, it is in our interest to continue to pursue the development of space science and technology. It is a strategic way of keeping pace with the rest of the world. It is the only and fastest way to do mapping. We require maps to develop cities. The older generation of Nigerians is dying and the younger generation cannot stay in the villages any longer. Therefore, more and more people are coming to the cities, meaning that we have to plan for our cities regularly. It is the only way we can sustain revenue through GIS powered by satellites images.

Lagos state has started benefiting from this and we expect other cities in Nigeria like Kano, Lokoja, Maiduguri, Akure and Ibadan to also do this.

Are you reaching out to these states with this technology?

We are. That is why we are on television promoting this technology. It is one thing for us to promote it and it is another thing for the decision makers to take action. We have been talking with the state governments to develop GIS centres which will be the hub to develop cadastral and urban applications in their cities.

What other example do they require when Lagos is a model already? Lagos has improved its revenue by more then 1,000 percent using satellite images. I am happy this started in Kwara not long ago. The governor has already promised he will open a GIS centre, so that even if he is attending a conference in London, he can sign the Certificate of Ownership. All this are part of the development using the 3G technologies. And what we are saying in trying to actualise these dreams is to  try to replicate all this in all the states and that through all this, we can also embark on the intervention map development.

We need to map Nigeria. It is not only buildings that are visible that can bring development. Nigeria is under mapped. There is no information about lineage, there is no information about the underground water, all these are necessary as part of our development process.

We need information on soil characterisation. What is the efficiency of our soils? Map is needed to create land evaluation. These are what SAT-2 and SAT-X are coming to provide.

Already you have signed an MoU with a UK company to market the data from these two satellites. How can Nigerians really benefit from this contract?

We are in the orbit, going round the world and we are going to set up a marketing company here at home to sell within Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Services will be made cheaper compared to those of other satellites. We intend to collaborate with both government and private sectors in the neighbourhood of Africa. As soon as we launch, we will focus on some countries in West Africa, such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia and then we will also reach out to the francophone countries in this region.

It is part of our plan to begin to work with ECOWAS and African Union to map cities that are over 2 million in Africa as part of the contribution by the space agency of Nigeria to continental efforts.

We intend to sell the data globally. That is why we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DMCI of United Kingdom because we believe that the 2.5 meter resolution satellite can play a vital role in space. DMCI is a company well known over the world as being capable of selling our data. It will sell for us, take its own commission and Nigeria will take the rest.

Nigeria once had a Satellite in the orbit, Nigeria SAT-1. What did you achieve with that satellite?

Nigerian SAT-1 was successful. Many Nigerians are aware of that. Even Nigerians in the Diaspora are aware. For instance, Nigerian communities in the US are proud of us, because when there was Hurricane Catharina, Nigeria SAT1 was the first satellite within the view that provided images to the American government that enabled them start rehabilitation. And here at home, we have developed capacities in a number of Nigerians through this hard earned technology.

Not only that, for the first time in Nigeria we made images available to Nigerians studying at Ph.D level and other researchers. Over 3,000 applicants, before now,  had to buy data from abroad. And it was difficult for a researcher to have enough money to buy such data. But we gave them free of charge. Many acknowledged us in their theses.

When we started this programme 11 years ago, even the elite criticized us severely. But after 11 years, they can look back and be happy that the citizens of Nigeria have made an impact and because of that Algeria followed suit, South Africa early this year formalised its space programme and Kenya is also following suit. If Nigeria’s satellite initiative is not a success, they will not be encouraged to do that.

African Union has formally come out with publications declaring intent to create a space agency for the whole continent because they believe development of space programme is strategic. It is political and is key to African development.

Now that security constitutes great challenge in the country, what can these satellites offer for more secured environment?

Our SAT-1 is a medium resolution satellite. A medium resolution may not give you much details, but the SAT-2 we are to launch is a 2.5meter resolution, which means everything within the range of 2.5 meters can be seen. It can see a house, it can see a car, it will do a lot for security agencies. Most of the hideouts of the militants and other troublemakers will be traced. A part from that, the camouflage within the army, can be effectively traced and there are several other things we can do through digital elevation model to address logistical  problems.

Aren’t you disturbed that the rift between NASDA and NIGCOMSAT may affect the efforts in the Nigerian space sector?

All these are part of the development problems in a country like ours but the law is very clear. Eighteen countries in Europe came together to form a European Space Agency because, space development is an expensive venture. America, despite its development, has one space agency, NASA. RUSSIA has only one space agency, India has one space agency and several other countries.

Nigeria cannot have more than one space agency. NIGCOMSAT was created following the launch of our communication satellite to enable us pay the money we borrowed from China, EXIM Bank is a special purpose vehicle to manage that satellite alone. This model was taken from Antic Corporation of India that is worth over $200 million today, and I don’t think that has changed. The Law has just been signed by Mr President and its clear that the Space Agency of Nigeria is responsible for the design, building and launch of satellites.

NIGCOMSAT is a commercial arm of it. The law has not changed and I alone cannot change the functions of the space agency or functions of NIGCOMSAT.

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