E-Business
NigComSat-1R, Still an Opportunity to Explore
Recently, the revolution in the world’s weather condition has caused a lot of changes in the atmosphere of orbit, which has led to satellite failures most especially in 2008. This development has caused a lot of worry in the satellite industry which experts attribute to weather, gravitational pulls, uncertainty in the space environment and many others. The latest casualty is Astra 5A, a communication satellite operated by Swiss Space Corporation (SSC) and SES Astra which suffered ‘technical anomaly’ on 20 January, 2009.
Astra 5A was built by one of the world’s best satellite manufacturers, Thales Alenia of Italy. Presently, an investigation is on by a technical team from Thales Alenia, SSC and SES to unravel the cause and to initiate a possible safety action. The satellite was positioned at orbital slot of 31.5 degree east. The spacecraft has operated for nearly eleven years until 22 October when it experienced a lost control but was recovered fifteen days later (November, 2008). With just a year and few months to complete its mission in space, the unexpected happened putting it to final rest.
Other spacecrafts have experienced these similar situations. A cursory look revealed that EchoStar-2 satellite with orbital location at 119 degrees West longitude built at the cost of $250m including construction, launch, and launch insurance, had a power system failure and experienced a total loss in July last year. In the fleet of EchoStar are EchoStar-3 located at 61.5 degree east, EchoStar-5 orbiting at 110 degree east while it future satellite which it has already secured an orbital slot located at 148 degree east will be orbiting soon. These mechanisms are put in place to address the uncertainties in the orbit.
Also Kazsat-1 in October regained a twelve hour outage which service was later restored. There were many others that suffered the same fate but could not be recovered. For Echostar-2, it was a total loss due to power failure. This means that there was no hope of recovery for this at all like NigComSat-1. Eutelsat- W5 reputed to be amongst the best operated satellite in the world also lost one of its two solar arrays owing to motor malfunction.
A chronology of satellite failures has revealed that KoreaSat-5 also lost power for than twelve hours, but service was restored afterward. It is the fifth satellite in the fleets of Korean satellite operators. Already the Korean government has concluded plans for the launch of KoreaSat-6 to be built by Arianspace in the second half of 2010. Korean space agency press release last year revealed that the Arianspace has another Korean satellite on its launch manifest, COMS-1, a multi-mission satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KAR).
Meanwhile, NigComSat-1 which was launched on 13 May, 2007 was put on a safe mode after a power failure which occurred on November 8, 2008 forcing the operators to terminate its mission to avoid colossal damage to other satellites in the orbit.
Though different ‘experts’ have spoken on the otherwise viability of the bird in the sky, however, considering the benefits derivable from it, which in recent time has overwhelmed many of us, it is a venture worthwhile. The telecom industry is now a major revenue earner after oil, it is pertinent therefore at this point to draw the attention of policy makers to distinguish between politics and mere rhetoric. The saying that charity begins at home must start with us. We have observed with dismay when a Middle East satellite operator was accorded the privilege of obtaining a licence to venture into the downstream, an issue which has generated heated argument between NIGCOMSAT Ltd and the regulators on the propriety of it and in defiance of a presidential directives to that effect.
Meanwhile some schools of thoughts also believed that with the enormity of infrastructural inadequacy in the country, going into space is a luxury for Nigeria. But the telephones couldn’t be as effective as they are today if not for a major project like the communications satellite. The Direct-to-Home pay TV will not be possible in the comfort of our homes without the satellite. The number of football followers which has blossomed recently most especially followers of foreign clubs, is made possible because of communications satellite beaming to our various homes. If a census of pay TV is to be carried out, it will be amazing to realize the number of pay TVs subscription especially in our rural communities competing with those in the urban cities because of the love for the round leather, all these are made possible by the bird in the sky.
The tele-medicine project aimed at reaching the vast majority of our sick rural populace to address the issue of health will not be realistic if our own satellite capacity continues to elude us. Even the internet which is one of the convenient ways of connecting people to the world as a global village will not be feasible.
Considering the huge capital flight from Africa and Nigeria in particular for purchase of bandwidths, our own satellite capacity is a most. It is rather ridiculous that in a jet age some Nigerians still don’t have enough fate in Nigeria to successfully run a satellite company or go to space.
Taking a cue from Astra 5A, immediately the spacecraft mission was declared ended by the unfortunate circumstance; customers including a German cable operator on the satellite were transferred to another SES Astra satellite located at 23.5 degree east. This was in contrast to NIGCOMSAT Ltd quest for more satellites (2 and 3) in the event of such calamity to enable it also do same by transferring its customers conveniently and quietly to the redundant ones which was rebuff by those believed to understand the satellite business better. The authorities of NigComSat Ltd were rather left with the option to buy capacity from other satellite service providers to meet with customers’ demand. This again placed it at a very difficult and disadvantage position because the revenue which could have accrued to it from the sales of bandwidths and transponders will not be feasible immediately because the company is now forced to source for money to maintain the existing customers on its transponders before replacement or most of its customers will look elsewhere to maintain their businesses. The comparative advantage with its competitors is further deepened as the market will be available for satellites operators with backups in the orbit as they make their ways into the Nigerian telecom market.
Proponents against the take off of NigComSat-2 and 3 to serve as a backup insisted that the capacity on NigComSat-1 must be fully utilized or exhausted not minding the possibility of failure or the harsh space environment. NigComSat-1 unlike Astra 5A with fleets of satellites will do much to address the inconveniences of settling its customers on other satellites. Astra 5A was obviously more prepared and understood the benefits than the government of Nigeria. This is exactly what Nigerians need to know most especially from space experts and not mere expression of sentiments.
As China prepares to replace the failed satellite (NigComSat-1R), it is pertinent for Nigerians to give very strong support to the realization of this laudable project. Federal government on its part must remain resolute most especially in the pursuit of the seven point’s agenda to facilitate the quick endorsement of the NigComSat 2 and 3 because this will expand our technological revolution. From the analysis above, it is crystal clear that the satellite adventure is a serious business and one satellite alone cannot give adequate guarantee in this respect not to even talk of global coverage. Since Nigeria is on the verge of divesting its revenue generation from the oil, the telecom sector remains a viable alternative. The rat race for orbital slots is high and Nigeria cannot afford to lack behind. Nigeria’s presence is required not only to save it from embarrassment of lacking behind in the technological order but African continent from the clouts of the western dominance in the space industry.
The senate misgiving about China’s capacity to handle NigComSat-2 &3, though genuine as it may sound, it is my strong conviction that management of NIGCOMSAT Ltd will give a thorough consideration to an open bidding to consider the best capable hands. However, from the analysis above, even satellites manufactured from the so call best hands have failed at one point or the other. Our prayers should be to have a satellite that will serve the country and the continent well.
My recent encounter at the Lagos Business School has revealed a lot to me. I was taken aback when a staff of Chevron mentioned to me how the company was greatly affected when NigComSat-1 crashed. Also the recent strike embarked upon by staff of NITEL and the subsequent shut down of SAT 3 which is presently giving cause for concern to both internet users and the effect on poor quality of telecomm services is an eye opener for Nigerians to give the desired supp
TeKnowledge and Equinix announced a partnership to accelerate secure hybrid and multi-cloud adoption and enable AI-ready digital infrastructure across the region.
Nigeria’s digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, with the digital economy being a significant contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
As demand for cloud services, AI adoption, digital payments and data-driven innovation continues to accelerate across West Africa, the partnership is positioned to advance the region’s digital transformation.
By combining Equinix’s in-country and global data centre infrastructure and secure interconnection capabilities with TeKnowledge’s expertise in designing, deploying and managing AI, data, customer experience and cybersecurity solutions, organisations can accelerate innovation while maintaining data residency and sovereignty requirements.
Together, the organisations empower enterprises and government institutions to bridge the gap between digital ambition and execution through secure, high-performance digital environments built on local infrastructure and delivered by local talent.
Speaking, CEO and President, TeKnowledge, Aileen Allkins, said: “Organisations across Africa are increasingly looking to modernise their infrastructure while maintaining the performance, security, and compliance required to support growth.
Through our partnership with Equinix, we are combining world-class digital infrastructure with deep local expertise to help customers accelerate cloud adoption, strengthen resilience, and unlock new opportunities through AI and emerging technologies.”
Managing Director of Equinix West Africa, Wole Abu, expressed delight at partnering with TeKnowledge to bring together Equinix’s globally interconnected platform, spanning over 280 data centres and 10,000 customers worldwide.
Uche Chigbo, coordinating director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), has said the newly enacted NIMC Act strengthens data protection and privacy, expands identity coverage to include everyone in Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora, and provides the legal framework for a secure and trusted digital identity ecosystem.
She said the new law replaces the 2007 NIMC Act, which had become outdated due to rapid technological advancements, evolving cybersecurity threats, the growth of the digital economy, and the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
According to her, the updated legislation better positions the Commission to deliver Nigeria’s digital identity agenda and improve access to government and private sector services.
“The Act itself has taken in a whole lot of things to make sure that NIMC is well-positioned to be able to deliver on the identity agenda and program of Nigeria. The area of universal coverage was expanded within the Act so that NIMC can enroll everybody that is within the soil of Nigeria—male, female, children, whether they are IDPs or orphans or whatever it is, and even Nigerians in diaspora.
“There is quite a lot within the Act that over the few days and weeks, even with my Director-General’s courtesy visit, we are trying to sensitize and educate the general public, and also bring awareness to this new Act so that people will know what are the rights that exist within it, what are the obligations, what are the stronger enforcement and penalties that has also been expanded within the Act, and then what are also the regulatory autonomy that has been given to NIMC to make sure that they drive the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria,” she explained.
“There’s a lot of provisions and changes with the new Act. Um, the NIMC 2007 Act has been operating for close to 19 years now. So, we can see that, um, you can actually say it’s almost obsolete. And then with a lot of technological advancements in the world now, with the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and then with also a lot of evolving security challenges, cybersecurity challenges, as well as the ever-growing digital economy, it became very necessary that a comprehensive review of the NIMC Act should be done.
So, that 2007 Act has been repealed and a new NIMC 2026 Act is in place,” she explained.
Chigbo clarified that the National Identification Number (NIN) is Nigeria’s unique identifier and the only valid means of identification for accessing government services.
She added that it enables secure identity verification and improves access to services.
“NIN has been designated as the unique identifier in Nigeria and then by the government of Nigeria establishing it as the only valid means of identification for assessing government services. So, NIN, it’s positioned to be a valuable tool for empowering citizens and legal residents to facilitate access to service delivery in Nigeria. And it’s also a tool for people to be able to prove their identity as they go about their daily businesses,” she said.
Speaking on identity harmonisation across government agencies, Chigbo said NIMC is integrating identity databases to enable Nigerians to access services seamlessly using the National Identification Number (NIN), while other agencies continue to issue functional identities for specific purposes.
“There’s a distinction between a foundational identity and a functional identity. NIMC provides the foundational identity, which answers the question, ‘Who are you?’ Are you a Nigerian or a legal resident? Who are you? That’s what NIMC is providing. All these other agencies that you have mentioned, they provide functional ID, which is an ID that relies on the foundational ID, where they have established who you are and then they are now trying to answer the question, ‘Are you now eligible to have these services? Are you now eligible to benefit from this transaction or scheme?’ So, those are two different distinctions.”
However, Chigbo said NIMC’s mandate is to harmonise and integrate identity systems across government, with the amended Act designating the Commission as the sole repository for biometric data.
“However, NIMC mandate is to make sure that we harmonize and integrate with all these agencies so that you’re one and the same person in any of the databases or registries that you have. The Act that has been expanded and amended also positions NIMC as the only repository for biometric data capture so that we can have effective identity management and coordination in Nigeria.
“So, that harmonization is already happening, the integration is already happening,” she stated.
She also disclosed that NIMC has introduced an online modification portal that allows Nigerians to begin the process of correcting or updating their personal information from the comfort of their homes or offices.
“But also, NIMC we have a modification portal that enables you to sit in the comfort of your home or office to be able to start the process of correction or updates of your data. We already have a self-service modification portal that allows you to make corrections,” she disclosed.
On the cost of obtaining a NIN, Chigbo clarified that enrolment and issuance of the National Identification Number are free.
She, however, noted that some other identity-related services attract approved fees, which are published on the NIMC website and paid electronically through the government Remita platform.
“Enrollment for the issuance of the National Identification Number, NIN, is free. There are other services, identity services that NIMC provide. Those ones have their charges, and those fees and charges are publicized on the NIMC website so that people can see what those charges are. And NIMC does not collect cash. Our transactions and the charges are paid electronically through the government Remita platform,” she said.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has retained Nigeria’s economic growth forecast at 4.1 per cent for 2026, while warning that rising prices of essential goods could worsen poverty and food insecurity in the country.
IMF
The IMF made the projection in its July 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, released on Wednesday.
According to the report, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2026 and improve to 4.3 per cent in 2027, with both forecasts unchanged from the Fund’s April outlook.
The IMF also maintained its growth projections for sub-Saharan Africa at 4.3 per cent in 2026 and 4.5 per cent in 2027.
The Fund said Nigeria’s economic outlook continued to benefit from improved macroeconomic stability and favourable terms of trade but cautioned that the rising cost of essential commodities remained a major concern.
“Nigeria is supported by improved macroeconomic stability and favourable terms-of-trade effects, though higher prices for essentials are expected to further aggravate poverty and food insecurity,” the report stated.
The IMF noted that economic performance across sub-Saharan Africa would remain uneven, reflecting differences in policy implementation, reform progress and countries’ exposure to external shocks.
It added that oil-importing and non-resource-intensive economies would likely face increased pressure from rising food and energy prices, while some larger economies continued to benefit from earlier macroeconomic reforms.
Globally, the IMF revised its 2026 growth forecast downward to 3.0 per cent from the 3.1 per cent projected in April but raised its 2027 forecast to 3.4 per cent.
According to the Fund, the downgrade for 2026 reflects the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, although stronger demand driven by advances in artificial intelligence and technology adoption has helped cushion some of the adverse effects.
Despite the resilience of the global economy, the IMF warned that risks remained tilted to the downside.
It identified renewed trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts and tighter global financial conditions as key threats to economic growth.
The Fund urged governments to rebuild fiscal buffers through credible fiscal consolidation, improved revenue mobilisation, stronger tax administration, efficient public spending and increased investment in infrastructure, skills development and targeted social protection programmes.
It also advised commodity-exporting countries to avoid excessive public spending during periods of high commodity prices.
“Economies benefiting from commodity windfalls and the upturn in the global technology cycle should avoid procyclical spending and save or redeploy gains within a credible medium-term fiscal framework anchored in debt sustainability,” the report stated.
The IMF further called on policymakers to accelerate structural reforms aimed at boosting productivity, strengthening labour markets, expanding digital and physical infrastructure, promoting predictable trade policies and enhancing international cooperation to support sustainable economic growth.
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