Obasanjo: We'll Benefit from Nigeria SAT-1
From Josephine Lohor in Abuja

President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that the country would benefit immensely from the US $13 million Nigeria Satellite (Nigeria SAT-1) launched in Russia last September.

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Speaking during a visit to the Satellite ground control station in Asokoro, Abuja, he stated that the services being provided by the project were not only invaluable but "interesting and exciting."

Obasanjo, who returned to Abuja from his Ota farm in Ogun state where he had spent the Easter break, drove straight to the station from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

While expressing satisfaction with the project, he commended the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, as well as the management and staff of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) for making it a reality.

Obasanjo watched the satellite being monitored and commanded to carry out specific functions as well as the passage of the satellite over the ground station for the 795th time since its launch.

Earlier, Isoun had pointed out that the Nigeria SAT-1 was capable of imaging all parts of the world.

He also revealed that the satellite passes over the ground station four times a day, two in the day and two at night.

While assuring Obasanjo that the project was worthwhile, he disclosed that some requests had been received from Nigeria and overseas for the use of data generated through the satellite.

Among the requests are six from international humanitarian aid organisations including an agency of the United Nations (UN) and another nine from international organisations for application in agriculture, fire monitoring, flood management and livestock management.

Three other requests, Isoun stated, were also received from international companies while 31 came from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), individuals, ministries and parastatals within the country.

According to him, "these show the relevance of satellite data application and the acceptance of Nigeria SAT-1 data."

The minister explained that both the private and public sectors could utilise satellite data to proffer solutions to various problems considered as strategic to national development.

He said a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) staff was even undergoing his doctoral degree using satellite images to identify accident-prone locations in Abuja.

He said that the result would form part of the strategic information needed to monitor traffic and reduce accidents in the FCT.

He said that an international conference of experts on Satellite imaging would be convened in May "to evaluate and validate the data from NigeriaSAT-1," so as to enhance its application and commercial value.

Isoun said that the Federal Government has given approval for the satellite to be used for the monitoring of oil pipelines and assured that the investment on the project would not be in vain.