News
Sat X, Nigeria’s satellite, Not Fit for Security Purposes – NASRDA
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said that Sat X, the current satellite of the country, cannot be used to address insecurity because it can only deliver low-resolution images.
Launched in August 2011, NigeriaSat-X is an optical imaging satellite that is operated by the NASRDA, Nigeria’s national space agency.
Dr Halilu Shaba, director general of NASRDA, stated this at the 7th annual lecture of the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers (NISEng), where participants called for the deployment of space assets to address security and the country’s challenges.
Shaba noted that the country has begun the process of acquiring a high-resolution satellite that can be used for security purposes.
“Nigeria Sat X is a remote sensing satellite with low resolution, we are thinking of high-resolution imagers that can pinpoint where problems are and solve them. You can pinpoint using 0.5 to 1 metre resolution and we don’t have a space asset that is of that resolution,” he said.
Shaba, who was represented at the event by represented by Dr Sadiq Umar, director, the Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), said: “We are working in collaboration with relevant agencies, the Presidency to acquire a high-resolution satellite that can pinpoint, show where problems are and give us pre-knowledge, movement of bandits, terrorist.’’
He added that the country also required a Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite that could see through the clouds even at night. According to him, without security, the country cannot grow, there will be food insecurity and a lot of challenges.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “Repositioning Nigeria’s Space Infrastructure as a Critical Dual-Use Asset for National Security: Government-Industry Imperatives.’’ Shaba said space-based communication systems such as satellites enabled secure and real-time communication for military forces, government agencies, and emergency responders.
He enumerated that space assets ensured weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, secure data transmission, and cybersecurity, among other importance. He noted that the Nigerian space asset had been instrumental in monitoring disasters like floods, oil spillage, and forest fires, managing post-disaster recovery, among other goods.
Shaba recommended that there should be strategic planning and investment, space diplomacy, collaborative framework, international cooperation, risk management, and contingency planning to boost the use of space assets.
EFCC
The African Development Bank Group last week approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund in order to support technology start-ups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, mainly in French-speaking Central and West Africa.
The Bank will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme.
This participation of the Bank Group will enable the Saviu II fund to give priority to companies with a strong technological or digital component.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 technology or technology-oriented business-to-business start-ups in the seed phase or carrying out first institutional fundraising.
The Saviu II venture capital fund aims to make at least 60% of its commitments in the French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa: Côte d ‘Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund can also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that have a strong team and business model, and whose strategy includes entering the market in French-speaking West African countries and establishing a strong presence there.
In addition, the fund will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity investments, usually in co-investment with studios, incubators or other ecosystem partners.
Nigerian Government has signed a $1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) via the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to fund an alumina refinery, national geoscience mapping, and a strategic investment vehicle for mining growth.
Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the refinery will process one million tonnes of bauxite yearly using a modern Bayer process, powered by an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant.
Minister Dele Alake called it a transformative milestone boosting GDP, aligning with reforms that improve investment climate, regulations, and licensing to attract private capital. He directed agencies to fast-track permits.
The 20-year project at 95% utilization eyes 19 million tonnes total output, $1.2 billion annual GDP addition, $25 billion economic impact, and $8 billion forex earnings, per feasibility studies.
SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi termed it the agency’s biggest funding deal, supporting value-addition policy.
The partnership extends to geoscience mapping for mineral data, de-risking exploration, and a joint vehicle for mining assets.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Farouk Yabo praised the reforms. Shinkafi signed for government; AFC’s Franklin Edochie for the corporation, witnessed by AFC CEO Samaila Zubairu.
Tomori positioned it as Nigeria’s largest private mining investment and FDI magnet.
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