Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has said the successful launch of Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X into orbit in Russia, was a big leap in the nation’s quest for technological breakthrough.
Governor Aliyu said the launch of the observation satellites would help bridge the technological gap between Africa and the Western world.
“The good people of Niger State are delighted that Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X would offer services in the areas of disaster warning, land use, land survey marking and high resolution imaging of the nation’s borders”, the Governor said through the Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo in Minna yesterday.
According to him, it was gratifying to know that the satellites have high resolution capacity to pinpoint individual buildings and could be used to provide data for urban planning.
Aliyu praised the federal government for the courage to launch the new satellites in spite of the drawback occasioned by the loss of the Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT 1) 18 months after it was launched in China in 2007
He said the recent launch of Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X had further accentuated Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa.
Governor Aliyu expressed the hope that the satellites would be properly managed to justify the country’s huge investment.
“This launch gives hope that Nigeria has the capacity to provide the conducive atmosphere required for scientists to thrive and a reassurance of president Jonathan’s administration’s commitment to the actualisation of Vision 20:2020”, he said.
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