Procurement of new satellites at 95% completion-NASRDA D-G

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says the procurement process for new satellites approved by the President Bola Tinubu administration has reached 95 per cent completion.

Prof. Matthew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, said this during an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

Adepoju said the administration had approved six satellites as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s space programme and replace ageing space assets.

He explained that the programme comprised three optical Earth observation satellites, one Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite and two communications satellites, identified as 2A and 2B.

“We have three optical satellites to be launched at sub-metre resolution. We have Synthetic Aperture Radar to be launched at one-metre and sub-metre resolution, then communication satellites, which come as 2A and 2B.

“This administration, with the Federal Executive Council approval of six satellites, has made a statement of intention that Nigeria is serious about space development, and more missions will soon be declared as well,” he said.

Adepoju said the satellites were not nanosatellites, adding that funding had been approved for the programme.

Nanosatellites are small satellites that usually weigh one to 10 kilograms. They are often used for various space exploration and can be part of larger systems including constellations to enhance performance and capability.

According to Adepoju, the procurement process has reached 95 per cent, with contractual engagements with foreign technical partners expected to follow.

“Currently, there is a procurement procedure which we are at 95 per cent level now.

“Very soon, at the African Space Economic Conference coming up in November, we will be signing an MoU and contractual agreement with our foreign technical partners,” he said.

The director-general said another major component of the programme was the establishment of a new Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory (AITL) to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for indigenous satellite development.

He said the facility would provide end-to-end capabilities for satellite assembly, integration and testing and would be used in manufacturing a new generation of satellites.

“One of the beautiful things that we are going to do is to build our new Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory, which is end-to-end.

“That is where we will be manufacturing a new set of satellites, and that is why I said we are going to declare new missions very soon,” he said.

Adepoju said the AITL was expected to be completed within 18 months from the date of signing the contract.

“We have the timeline from the day of signing the contract to commissioning, and that is 18 months,” he said.

He described the approval of the satellites and associated infrastructure as a significant development in Nigeria’s space programme and an indication of the administration’s commitment to building critical national infrastructure.

Adepoju said Nigeria was also strengthening space regulation and spectrum management to ensure better oversight of activities within the country’s space ecosystem.

“Gone are the days that foreign companies and partners come and do whatever they like in our space sector.

“Now we monitor, we manage and ensure that the abuses of the past are no longer repeated in this country,” he said.

He urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of opportunities emerging from the space sector, saying innovation did not always require huge financial resources.

“Sometimes you don’t need big money to start solving problems. All you need is your brain, an enabling environment, and government is providing such in the space sector,” he said.

The NASRDA boss said investments in space technology and other critical infrastructure were necessary to support Nigeria’s long-term economic aspirations, including the drive towards a one-trillion-dollar economy.

He called on governments at all levels to simplify policies and programmes to enable citizens, particularly those at the grassroots, to understand and take advantage of available opportunities.

Newsmen report that the project estimated to cost $2 billion would be delivered through various partners.

For instance NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B would be delivered through the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Thales Alenia Space of France.

The partnership also involves China Great Wall Industry Corporation.