The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, said that the federal government have no plans to privatise the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT). He said during a facility tour/visit of the NIGCOMSAT that the facility is the only full-fledged technological facility in Africa is a national pride that should not be ceded to the private sector.
“The private sector itself has the freedom to pull resources together and host satellites if they feel they need it, this is one national treasure which I don’t believe should be ceded to the private sector. We as Nigerians must have something we can call our collective own, something that’ll remain our national pride.
So, for anybody to want to sell this national pride is a mere attempt to short-change Nigeria and all Nigerians. So, as long as I am minister I will never be party to any such unholy sale because it does not portray Nigeria’s national best interest.”
Shittu bemoaned the presence of only one satellite hosted by the Nigerian government in the orbit, describing it as very dangerous and risky, also that the federal government is already making efforts to secure funds from international financiers to host more satellites.
“We all know that all we find here is just to support one satellite in orbit. Nigeria currently has only one satellite in orbit which is certainly not enough; it is very risky and dangerous. We need to have more than one satellite in the orbit so that all other countries and companies who are patronising us and paying money for satellite services will be rest assured that their investments will be secured and safe,” he said.
