Nigeria Set For Its Own Satellite in 2018

The Minister of Science, Dr. Abdu Bulama said yesterday that the

National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) would

facilitate the building and launching of the made in Nigeria satellite

which would be ready by 2018, Guardian reports.



"They (NASRDA) should be able to meet the target of 2018 to produce a

Nigerian satellite."The minister said.



President Goodluck Jonathan had last year launched the National Space

Council with a charge to design a made in Nigeria satellite.



Members of the Council include the President as Chairman, the Vice

President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Attorney

General/Minister of Justice, Minister of Science & Technology,

Minister of Communication Technology, Minister of Defence, Minister of

National Planning, Minister of Education, Minister of Interior,

National Security Adviser, Director General, NASRDA and Secretary to

Council, Prof. V.O.S Olunloyo, Prof. Francisca Okeke and Prof. E.D.

Mishelia.



The president had charged the National Space Research and Development

Agency to develop the capacity to design a made in Nigeria Satellite

and launch the satellite from Nigerian soil in the very near future.



It will be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture earlier

in the year revealed its plan of working on a comprehensive livestock

information system that will require all cattle in the country to

carry electronic chips while satellite imagery and remote sensing

technology are deployed to track their movements.



However this was purely a security measure aimed at curbing the

incessant clashes between fulani herdsmen and farmers.