Tinubu tasks NASS on space programme priority, funding

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, expressed the need for the National Assembly to prioritise the funding for Nigeria’s space programme to enable the country play a leading role in the fourth industrial revolution.

Tinubu spoke at event tagged: ‘Nigeria’s 25 years in Space and Technology’, organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency, held at the Banquet hall of the State House, Abuja.

Represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, Tinubu called on the parliament to strengthen the act establishing the National Space Research and Development Agency so as to enable the Nigerian space ecosystem become vibrant in its local as well as international engagements.

The President also called for efforts to ensure the integration and mainstreaming of the private sector into the heart of Nigeria’s space programme to enable the country to maximise opportunities in the coming years for national development.

“Great effort should be made to ensure that the private sector is mainstreamed into the heart of our space programme for us to do more in the coming years for our national development.
“I am glad that we have a good number of the legislature here to celebrate this milestone together. I, therefore, called upon our legislatures to prioritise the funding for our space programme to ensure we play a leading role in this fourth industrial revolution. There is also a need to strengthen the Act that established NASRDA to help the Nigerian space ecosystem to be more vibrant in its engagements, locally and internationally.

“Similarly, the sector will require improved budgetary support to be able to accomplish its programmes, whose outcomes can bring massive socioeconomic dividends to Nigeria and her citizens. This will also solidify Nigeria’s standing as a leading space-faring country in Africa and further boost her image to competitively attract foreign direct investment because of our locational advantage for cheaper launching services.”

Tinubu assured NASDRA and all stakeholders of his administration’s support in meeting future challenges as well as exploring better dividends of science and technology for Nigeria’s greatness.

In his remarks, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Nnaji, said the projected $1.8 trillion global space economy would influence industries such as supply chain logistics, agriculture, defence and digital communications in Nigeria.

Nnaji added that the targeted sectors were expected to generate over 60 per cent of new economic value from space-enabled technologies for Nigeria.

In his goodwill message, the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Satellite NIGCOMSAT, Mrs Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen, said the anniversary of Nigeria’s 25 years in space and technology, was proof of Nigeria’s vision, resilience and unyielding commitment to harnessing the vast potential of space science and technology for national development.

At the event, the President also unveiled a 400-page compendium publication on the activities of the National Space Research and Development Agency in the last 25 years.