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The House of Representatives chided heads of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over non-patronage of the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT).
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Danasabe Hosea (PDP-Taraba), who frowned at overdependence on foreign satellite facilities.
Leading debate on the motion, the Taraba lawmaker recalled that the Federal Government had contracted Kosmo – 3m Rocket from Russian Plesetsk Spaceport to launch its first Earth Observation Satellite, the Nigeria – 1 on Sept. 17, 2003, at the cost of $30 million.
He said subsequently, Nigcomsat – 1 Communications Satellite was launched in China at the cost of $200 million, but it failed in orbit in 2008 after running out of power, owing to an anomaly in its solar array.
The lawmaker said he was aware that the Federal Government had, since 2003; spent about N85 billion on five Satellites which were meant to provide communication data and images for government agencies and the private sector.
This, he said was with the aim of saving billions of foreign exchange and generating revenues estimated at $20 billion for the country.
“The House is also aware that Nigcomsat – IR was relaunched in 2011 at no extra cost while Nigeria sat-2 and Nigeria sat X Satellite, which was built at a cost of $35 million was launched in the same year.
“The House is concerned that the multi-billion naira Communication Satellites are under-utilized in space due to low patronage by Government agencies and private companies which continue to spend money running into billions of naira to procure satellite images from other Service Providers, services which Nigeria’s Satellite could supply, thereby depleting our foreign reserves.”
The lawmaker expressed optimism that Nigcomsat IR had effective signal coverage of the entire country and the West African sub-region.
He added that if Federal and States Government agencies were mandated to subscribe with the Nigerian Communications Satellite for their satellite services, the billions of naira being expended for their satellite images needs will be conserved.
On his part, Chris Azubogu, deputy chairman, House Committee on Appropriations frowned at the non patronage of Satellite for provision of information for security, entertainment and other areas.
While ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the committee on Information Technology to determine the cause of non-patronage of the NIGCOMSAT by the MDAs and report back within four weeks.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
