Director-General, National Research and Space Development Agency, NARSDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, has announced that the occurrence of eclipse was capable of generating billions of dollars for the economy through tourists attraction.
Mohammed made the assertion during the observation of the annular eclipse at Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja.
He dismissed the erroneous belief that the occurrence of eclipse signifies the anger of the gods, stating that such occurrence was natural and could add value to the nation’s economy by attracting tourists from all parts of the world to Nigeria.
The director stressed the need for the sensitisation of Nigerian public about the causes of eclipse as against the erroneous belief, describing it as a major scientific issue that occurs when the three celestial bodies (the sun, earth and moon) come to alignment.
“We must understand that in some places, it attracts tourism. As we speak, in Indonesia, it is lasting for about two hours with total darkness, as advertised in the last two weeks and thousands of tourists are there.
“What it means is that hoteliers and tourists are smiling home in Indonesia. We can develop our own because it can last for hours. That is why we brought children to learn and they are happy. We must train them as scientists,” he said.
“We must diversify our economy through focus and commitment on space technology, we must train people on it, and this is a major platform for that. We must sensitise people to know that this is a national phenomenon within the celestial bodies and that God is not angry with us as some people believed. We are happy at it because it is normal,” he added.
