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FG spends N48bn on satellite
Everest Amaefule, Abuja
The construction of Nigeria’s first communications satellite, christened NIGCOMSAT-1, by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation cost the Federal Government a sum of N48 billion according to Xinhua News Agency.
The cost is about 2,790 per cent higher than the N1.72 billion spent on the nation’s first satellite in the orbit, NigeriaSat-1 that was constructed by Russians.
NigeriaSat-1, however, is one of seven micro-satellites known as Disaster Monitoring Constellation. Other partners in the DMC international consortium are China, Algeria, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
NIGCOMSAT 1, on the other hand, will be used in telecommunication, broadcasting and broadband communication. While Sat-1 has a lifespan of five years, NigComSat-1 will have a lifespan of 15 years.
The news agency reported on Sunday that the Satellite, which is expected to be launched into the orbit by the beginning of 2007, had passed the preliminary design appraisal in Beijing.
The cost of the satellite include items such as construction, insurance, Value Added Tax as well as the price for building one ground control station in Abuja and a backup control station in Kashi, China.
NIGCOMSAT-1 Project Manager, Mr. Ahmed Rufai, said apart from the competitive price offered by the Chinese firm, the company also won the contract because of other concessions it offered.
These include the training of 50 Nigerians, who will be responsible for the satellite, as well as maintenance package for a period of two years.
About 22 companies from China, the United States, UK, France, Italy and Israel had participated in the bid for the satellite project.
The four gateways to the satellite will be located in South Africa, China, Italy and Northern Nigeria.
It will be equipped with 28 transponders made up of four C-bands, 18 Ku bands, four Ka bands and two L-bands.
Rufai said on completion, NIGCOMSAT 1 would provide for virtual education, telemedicine as well as video conferencing.
He added that the cost compared favourably with similar projects in other parts of the world.
Many Nigerians have criticised the nation’s recent romance with space technology as remote in the midst of many basic problems plaguing the country.
The Federal Government and space experts have, however, insisted that the projects are not only necessary to enhance the country’s rating in the comity of nations but required to solve some of the basic problems.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had while hosting Nigerian science and technology experts in the Diaspora on Thursday indicated the nation would push forward in space technology by putting Nigerians in the space within a period of 15 years.
The contract for NIGCOMSAT-1 satellite was signed on Dec 15, 2004 in Abuja between China Great Wall Industry Corporation and the National Space Research and Development Agency.
China is highly elated at the opportunity to build the satellite for Nigeria. They consider the contract of paramount significance in expanding the influence of China’s aerospace cause in the world, especially in developing countries, according to President of the Great Wall Corporation, Mr. Wang Haibo.
“At present all the work, involving the satellite development, rocket production and construction of ground stations are in smooth progress in accordance with plan. This means China has made breakthrough in export of complete satellite,” XNA reports.
The PUNCH, Tuesday, August 02, 2005
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