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FG Draws Roadmap for Space Mission
05.11.2006

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The federal government has announced that it has drawn up a master plan through which the first Nigerian would land on the moon by 2030
Giving details of the plan, which was approved at yesterday's meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), science and technology minister, Prof Turner Isuon, said that a cabinet committee has been established for the purpose.
Isuon told state house correspondents at the end of the meeting that members of the council committee include the ministers of science and technology, FCT, education, communications and the minister of state for finance.
The committee, which is to draw up the plan and budget for the actualisation of the presidential initiative, is also empowered to invite Nigerians in the Diaspora, who are specialists in space science.
The minister said that within the next 25 years, the country would aspire to produce and launch a satellite in the country and also be able to help others achieve a similar goal.
He said that the country would not go solo on the search for a place in space, adding that through its National Space Research and Development Agency, the federal government hope to go into partnerships with other nations that were ahead in space.
``As we speak, 55 young engineers are undergoing training on satellite technology in China,'' he said, adding that government was planning to establish the needed institutions and infrastructure for the programme.
``There will be a year by year plan, and capacity would be developed,'' he said, noting that by the end of 2007, between 60 and 70 satellite engineers would have been fully trained and ready for the task ahead.
He spoke of plans to develop communications software locally and also manufacture all the facilities needed in space technology such that the nation could also begin to reap huge benefits from space sciences.
The minister said that the space plan was for the future and that the federal government was ``very serious on this'' and was determined to work successfully to actualise it.


My comment; Let them establish stable power supply on earth in Nigeria first![color=#990000][/color]

typical of my country,
misplaced priorities,
sometimes you wonder if the people doing all these things live in this country,
whatever happened to good roads, water, healthcare, education,
meanwhile, will the astronauts who will make this feat possible be Nigerian trained or imported from china? considering the state of research in our higher institutions,

May the good Lord deliver us.

Daily Champion (Lagos)

May 11, 2006
Posted to the web May 11, 2006

Lagos

FEDERAL Government yesterday set in motion plans to launch the first made-in-Nigeria satellite by 2018. Ahead of this plan, the country also expects to produce its first astronauts nine years from now.

The development was one of the decisions taken at the Weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Olusegun Obasanjo/with Vice President, Atiku Abubaker in Attendance.

Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, briefed newsmen after the FEC meeting.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government has also approved about N1.83 billion for the supply of communications and military equipment to the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

Speaking on the contracts awarded for the Nigerian Army, the minister, stated that "there was also memo for the procurement of radio equipment for the Nigerian Army awarded at a cost of N623.6 million.

According to the Minister, "The other contract also is for the procurement of logistics items for 103 battalion of the Nigerian Army inducted for the United Nations (UN) Mission in Sudan. All of you know the role that Nigeria is playing as far as peace-keeping mission is concerned in the African continent, particularly now in the Sudan where the contribution of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army is applauded and appreciated by everybody.

"So when we sent our army to this kind of thing, it is our responsibility and duty to make sure that they have all the equipment that they require to make us proud. The cost of this contract is for the supply of ammunition (N778 million), communication equipment (N174.9 million ), 10 4 by 4 jeeps (N70.6 million), 4 truck tankers (N50 million) and 2 bulldozers (N130 million)", he added

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Turner Isoun on his part, noted that "the 25-year plan has the objective that we should be able to produce a Nigerian astronaut by 2015. We should be able to launch a satellite manufactured in Nigeria by 2018, and we should be able to launch a satellite manufactured and made in Nigeria and launched within the territory of Nigeria. Please note that no country has been able to do these things automatically".


He added that "it is expected that in 25 years, Nigeria would have developed the capacity to manufacture, launch a satellite, develop communication software and sell band waves".

Another major highlight of the weekly Federal Executive Council is the directive given by the President that the Petroleum Development Tax Fund (PDTF) provides fund worth N2.50 billion for the supply of science and technological training, learning equipment and laboratory equipment to 102 unity federal schools and 6 federal polytechnics, one each from the six geo-political zones of the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtar Shagari who coordinated the weekly FEC briefing alongside the Ministers of Scince and Technology, Turner Isoun; Education, Chinwe Nora Obaji and Minister of State for Health, Halima Tayo Alao, also stated that approval has been given for the establishment of units and desks in all tiers of Government towards ensuring that the National Policy on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Nigeria becomes a reality.

YEYE PEOPLE. Even in that year 2030 dou thinkthey willbe there?
Yeye.

Why can't we just solve the problem on earth before we venture into space?.?.?.?.?.?

Nigeria!! space mission? what is going on here?

There is nothing with having a dream.

There is something wrong when it is a nightmare

We must have dreams even in our darkness it gives us hope

backslider, your ass is in ghana for Gods sake, what u know abt that, we dont need a backslider dude,

When the FG cannot even manufacture missiles like the Qassam II that homeless palestinians can make, what do they think they can achieve?

Great idea to send 55 engineers to China when they can use the money to massively improve our educational system and train thousands of Nigerian engineers back at home.

lmao, nigeria can't maintain it's airplane fleet and we want to start a space program.

These Nigerian Leaders behave like imbeciles when they come up with ideas like this. Why won't they use all that money and develop the existing schools. Did the Chinese go to Mars to learn how to build it?

We have in excess of 30 public universities in the country and this blind rulers do not see ay of them producing competent engineers. . .

They steal public funds and go on blind spending like sending people to the UK under PTDF scholarship. Why can't they make those schools establish satellite campuses here in Nigeria like the IPS in Uniport and U I in 1948? Now they have come with satellite engineers!

Now those 55 lucky chaps won't be chosen on merit rather they will be chosen based on sentiments and power play. _{these politicians make me sick to my stomach}

Senseless politicians

Someone tell me this is a joke.