Nigeria'll save N80bn with NigComSAT-1R annually- Johnson

Mrs. Omobala Johnson, CommTech Minister

Nigeria may be saving the sum of $500m, about  N80,025,001,525.88 when the nation’s replacement communication satellite, NigComSat-1R, is launched next month in China.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ conference on NigComSAT-1R by the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, in Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who was represented by her Special Adviser on ICT, Mr. Ola Ogunneye made this disclosure.

She disclosed that Nigeria currently spends about $500m on servicing the capital flight emanating from broadband needs of the country annually.

But with the launch of NigComSAT-1R, she said that NigComSat-1R services will domesticate broadband services by curtailing capital flight which stood at about $500m yearly.

She also said that the launch of the Nigeria’s replacement communication satellite NigComSat-1R, would add value and improve the fast growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape in the country.

“NigComSat-1R will no doubt add value and improve the fast growing ICT landscape in Nigeria especially in the areas of broadband internet connectivity,” she declared.

Mrs. Johnson in her keynote address to the NigComSat Limited organised Stakeholders conference in Lagos, in readiness for the launch in December, she noted that Nigeria is in a hurry to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), saying that good news awaits Nigeria on the launch.

She pointed out that this is in line with the clarion call to all Nigerians to join hands with the federal government by President Goodluck Jonathan on his transformational agenda.

She recalled that recently, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) rose up from its yearly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland with a marching order to its member countries to make broadband connectivity available in at least 40 per cent of households by 2012.

Nigeria, she said, is a member of ITU and will abide by the decision through creation of the enabling environment for broadband internet connectivity through adequate investment by both government and
private sector.

Mrs. Johnson also said that NigComSat-1R will certainly make a difference and this conference would show just that, and when the satellite is launched, good news awaits Nigerians in broadband internet connectivity improved network transmission and coverage.

She said that NigComSat-1R will domesticate broadband services by curtailing capital flight which has stood at about $500m yearly.

Government, she said, cannot do it all alone, hence they beckon on all well meaning private investors to join hands to improve the ICT landscape which will add value to the lives of the citizenry.

Remmy Nweke
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