JONATHAN INAUGURATES NIGCOMSAT-1R

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Jonathan inaugurates Nigcomsat-1R
By The Sun Publishing
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja inaugurated Nigeria’s replaced communication satellite, NigComSat-1R and ordered ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to latch on to it.

The initial satellite project was inaugurated in May 2007 but de-orbited into outer-space in November 2008 due to what experts described as “failure in the solar array.” NigComSat-1R was built by the Chinese Great Wall Industries Corporation (GWIC) at no cost to Nigeria based on an insurance cover.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Chairman, Board of NigComSat Ltd., Prof. Turnar Isoun, expressed delight for receiving and inaugurating the satellite. “I am indeed very delighted to receive the symbol of our proudly re-launched satellite: Nigerian Communication Satellite-1 Replacement (NigComSat-1R) today from the China Great Wall Industries Corporation.

“It is my honour to formally commission Nigerian Communication Satellite-1 Replacement to the glory of God, to the enduring benefit of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. This event marks the beginning of full commercial utilisation of the satellite for the benefit of Nigeria and indeed the African continent and the global community.
“Government has engraved ICT into the hearts of its operations; this is to facilitate a seamless and timely exchange of information across the different levels of government.
“It is my expectation that all federal ministries and all federal agencies would leverage on the opportunity provided by NigComSat-1R.”

Jonathan said the satellite would stem capital flights as the money which was hitherto expended on satellite bandwidth procurement would now be retained within the country.
The president, who allayed the fears of would-be customers about the likely disruption of their businesses in the event the satellite failed in future, assured that necessary measures had been taken to forestall such possibility.

“Let me assure you that extra care has been taken to forestall this possibility; you would be assured to know that the Federal Government takes the operation of NigComSat very seriously.
“We understand the limitation that a reliance on a single vehicle poses, it is for this reason that this government has set in motion the process to acquire Nigeria Communication Satellite-2 and 3. I believe this would restore all the necessary confidence to the users and consumers of this important resource.”

He said the nation had remained obligated to foreign organisations for the management of data, including strategic data, stressing that with NigComSat-1R, the country could now be more independent.
Jonathan said the ICT sector had long been recognised as a transformation vehicle for accelerating the growth of the economy, generating employment and facing up to the development challenges.

He thanked the government and people of China for their commitment in strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship with Nigeria and expressed hope that the relationship would even grow stronger.
Earlier, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the commencement of commercial activities on NigComSat-1R would open up several opportunities for stakeholders to bring the benefits of this key ICT infrastructure to end-users.

She said the ministry would explore and provide NIGCOMSAT Limited with necessary support to take the lead by capturing a large share of the communications market over its coverage areas in Africa, Europe and Asia.
Johnson reiterated that the satellite would generate high revenues and create job opportunities in Nigeria, adding that the ministry would ensure that all MDAs and relevant stakeholders patronise it.
In his remarks, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd., Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, explained that the December 19, 2011 launch of NigComSat-1R in China and the IOD would continue to be part of Nigeria’s spectacle of history.

Ahmed-Rufai said Nigeria had finally joined the big league in communications satellite service provision as NigComSat-1R boasts of several opportunities with footprints across Africa, parts of Europe and Asia.
“We are firmly resolved to go to the next level by providing a Satellite platform that will be the pride of all Africans in general and Nigeria in particular.

“For us at NIGCOMSAT Ltd, the satellite is the end result of many years of hard work and sacrifice, and another step towards the fulfillment of our vision to be the leading satellite operator in Africa.
“Our services therefore will indeed bring the expected availability of bandwidths, not just to Nigeria, but the entire continent.

“Our footprints will be visible to other parts of Europe and Asia. We shall ensure that these services are available for customers at competitive prices against what is obtainable elsewhere.”
He disclosed that the In-Orbit test (IOT) of the satellite) has been carried out and the test result verified to meet all the contractual agreement.

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