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Obasanjo wants satellite for 2005 census
By Gbenga Abiodun, State House, Abuja
He said with the remote sensing capacity of the Satellite, Nigeria’s inability to obtain a near accurate figure at previous census exercises should be a thing of the past.
According to the president, who spoke at the opening session of a national workshop on Satellite Remote Sensing of Nigeria Sat-1 Data Validation organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) at Le Meriden Hotel, Abuja, the prospects of solving this age-long problem along with several others are high.
Obasanjo noted that the international perception of Nigeria as a country rife with ethno-religious crises has changed to one in a new race for space technology since the launch of the Nigerian Sat-1 last September.
The president expressed delight at the achievements of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Space Agency both of which have been working tirelessly to ensure that the data being generated from the Nigerian satellite are made available to fast track the development of the country.
“I am delighted that they took that decision to launch Nigeria Sat-1,” he said, while agreeing that it might have been a bit late, “But better late than never.”
With the advantages of remote sensing, President Obasanjo enthused that “some past problems can now be solved in the areas of environment, irrigation, minerals, tourism and census.”
Stressing further on the census, he said, “Through remote sensing, there is no excuse not to be able to count ourselves accurately.”
The Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun, in his remarks at the occasion explained that the objectives of the workshop was to sensitise stakeholders and users of satellite images on the utilisation of Nigeria Sat-1 data in various areas of socio-economic activities and sustainable national development, adding that with the launch of Sat-1, Nigeria had become a “Satellite Information Provider.”
President Obasanjo, however, asked the National Space Research and Development Agency NASRDA) headed by Professor Babatunde Boroface to work towards the launch of a Communication Satellite in the shortest possible time.
Boroface later gave the hint that over 10 big companies have already submitted bids for the project of a communication satellite now before the agency.
He added that the earlier international criticism greeted the launch of Nigeria Sat-1 had given way to international optimism and support for the project.
President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday asked the managers of the nation’s satellite, Nigeria Sat-1 to prepare to deploy it for use in the quest to obtain an accurate figure in next year’s head count.
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