FG targets more market for NIGCOMSAT in Africa, Asia

The Federal Government said it is planning to improve the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) to become competitive in Africa and Asia digital market.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, disclosed this while inaugurating the Board Chairman and Members of NIGCOMSAT.

The Minister charged the Board to hit the ground running immediately and learn new ways of doing business in order the increase the revenue-generating strength of the Company.

“I am highly delighted to witness the swearing and at the same time inaugurate the Chairman and Board members of Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited NIGCOMSAT.

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“I want to use this opportunity to advise you that the challenge is a huge one. Most importantly, if you are appointed in the ICT sector, you can hardly deliver firstly without commitment, secondly, you need to read and be up to date, you need to learn, unlearn and relearn.

“There are certain things you always need to learn, there are things you need to unlearn and there are things you need to relearn. So it is because of this that I encourage all of you to sit properly, understand the assignment and the challenge before us.

“You are very much aware that I recently approved the establishment of two special units or companies under NIGCOMSAT, firstly Satellite Infrastructure Company, and Satellite Broadband and Broadcasting Services Company.”

Pantami, however, said “these two companies are very apt, and they came at the right time, so I think you don’t have time for sleeping, you are to hit the ground running immediately.

“We have other things we are working in other to improve NIGCOMSAT and we are trying to make sure that NIGCOMSAT is not only competitive in Nigeria but at least in Africa and Asia.

“My dream and my ambition for NIGCOMSAT is a huge one and am only here to give you the policy to supervise and intervene when my attention is needed, the main work is to be done by the Board on one hand and the management on the other, so it is because of this that I challenge you to try to turn things around.

While responding, the Chairman of the Board, Yusuf Kazaure, said satellite is inevitably necessary for a large country like Nigeria, and communication continues to be so important that you cannot do without it.

He said the target set by the Minister could only be achieved with satellite, so they look forward to creating partnerships with agencies within the ministry and other agencies outside the Ministry and ICT companies in order to achieve the targets.