FG seeks $550m for procurement of 2 satellites

Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications, says the federal government will need about $550 million to acquire two new satellites.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the 4th national council on communication technology meeting in Kaduna, Shittu said with the new satellites in place there would be enough data sharing and collection in the country.

The minister said with adequate back up, government institutions, agencies and ministries would patronise NigComSat.

“We need just about 550 million dollars to acquire two new satellites; we are already negotiating with China EXIM Bank, who had assured us that they will deliver the money,” he said.

“We will negotiate and procure extra satellites for NigComSat,  so that there will be adequate back up for and once this done whatever data is stored in one satellite will equally be shared by the two or three satellites.

“With that, there will not be fear of any problem because there will be enough data collection centre and there will be reliability.

“Once we are sure that we have three satellites then we can beat our chest that nobody would take Nigeria money outside for the purpose of storing data.

“Effective radio spectrum monitoring would assist with intelligence gathering and support the security agencies in enhancing security and safety of citizens and the nation in general.

“In this regard, attention will be paid to the issue of multiple taxation of ICT infrastructure and we are working to have ICT infrastructure designated as Critical National Infrastructure.

“We are also working to make more investments in building the capacity and harnessing the talents of our youth. In particular, we are increasing Accelerators and Incubator programmes as a means of building and harnessing the capacity of our increasingly ICT savvy youth population.”