The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has thrown its weight behind the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in its quest for effective satellite solutions in rural areas.
Acting Director-General of the ICRC, Mr Michael Ohiani, gave the assurance when he received a team from the Space Agency led by its Director-General, Dr Halilu Shaba, who was on a courtesy visit to the ICRC in Abuja.
The space agency is currently carrying out research in the field of broadband technology that could result in cost-effective satellite system solutions in rural Nigeria through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The project was designed as part of the solution to meet Nigeria’s aspiration of providing up to 90 per cent of the populace with fast, affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband internet.
Speaking during the meeting, Ohiani said, “We are happy to welcome the DG of NARSDA, Dr Shaba. I assure you that I am very passionate in respect of the proposed project.
“I pledge to give you all the necessary support to ensure that many PPP projects will be brought to fruition from NARSDA.”
Mr Ohiani further said that there were many areas of partnerships, which the ICRC and the Space Agency can collaborate to explore.
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In a presentation to the team from NASRDA, the ICRC pointed out that: “PPPs can support research and education, engineering development, design and manufacture, particularly in the areas of instrumentation, rocketry and small satellites development.
Other areas identified for such partnerships include; remote sensing, satellite meteorology, communications and information technology as well as defence and security.
On his part, the Director-General of NARSDA commended the ICRC for analysing the proposed project and making it take proper shape from research to commercial actualisation.
“For us, ICRC is very important to the infrastructure development of Nigeria; the Commission is also relevant to space science and technology development.”
Dr Shaba informed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), recently said that space science was a unique area, and that government could not continue to fund all the space activities.
“If you look at space, it is not something that goes through normal budgetary allocations because of the kind of funds needed.
“However, we are committed and convinced because we believe that the money of the future will come from space science. That is why a lot of people are running to space and we want Nigerians to also benefit from this.”
He said that Nigeria must embrace space technology and all its derivable benefits if it must maintain its number one position as the biggest economy in Africa.
The NASRDA boss said that even the digital economy, which is being widely celebrated relies on space technology, hence the need to pay more attention to its development.
“If we all believe that digital economy is going to drive Nigeria into economic growth, then definitely space technology must be explored,” he added.
Manji Yarling, Ag. Head, Media & Publicity of the ICRC said Dr Shaba called for more interactions between the ICRC and NASRDA nationwide to achieve more development in the space technology sector.
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