Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the federal government is to start the training of local astronauts for space travel by 2015.

Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Ewa, Monday announced the government's intention to train astronauts for space travel while giving a report of the achievements of his ministry in the past two years, at a press conference in Abuja.

Ewa who said the ministry was waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the training programme, added that the country would also collaborate with the Chinese government for the development of a space rocket.

Already, the minister said a launch site with a 20-kilometre launch capability had been set up in Epe, Lagos State, adding that 12 engineers from the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA) are in China for training.

Speaking on the benefits to Nigeria from an improved space programme, the minister explained that once the president has approved the programme, the country would start preparing the launch of two more communication satellites.

According to him, the socio-economic benefits of such deployment of satellites include; security surveillance, flood management, environmental surveillance for pest and diseases infested areas, desertification and pollution, especially oil spillage in the Niger Delta.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201306180284.html?aa_source=sptlgt-grid?aa_source=sptlgt-grid


Our maternal mortality at child birth is off the scale.
If you drive from Lagos to Kano, you put your head on the chopping block for bad road, LASTMA, robbers, Boko
See children who do not have books to read or shoes for their uniform.

With all this, we want to burn money when education, health, travel is not adequately provided for. SMH

do they mean training of sattelite and rocket engineers or astronauts? if its d former, i think its OK, but if its the later, I think they are joking

I knew there's something going on at that epe... They've been testing rockets lately

The costs of space travel are far too expensive at the moment. The money should be used to build hospitals and schools.

Horus: The costs of space travel are far too expensive at the moment. The money should be used to build hospitals and schools.

tell that to your governor.. Fg has allocated her share ... This is a project by the fg

whats the point of engaging in a space programme?

Frm 2015 to 2019 to 2020 to 2025 etc

Our belle don full be that, na to investigate what others had already done using our insufficient funds. If uncle Jo dey curious about the other side he should use a secondary data or follow Japan troops. Oniranu

NIGERIANS WANT ADVANCE THEIR WITCHCRAFT

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaha

[size=15pt]Constant Electricity is more important!!![/size]

I nominate mr ibu and baba suwe to lead the first team to the sun...

You can't even provide steady electricity for Aso rock alone.

#misplaced_priorities and another #money_chopping_venture

But trust Nigerians to siddon look as long as it does not affect the price of garri.

All we know is to keep shouting "God dey".

smh.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha

"Man a waan go a moon but can't feed the starving tummies" - Damian Marley(Sabali meaning "Patience".

Giant stride things... Good news if you'd ask me.

I pray for it's manifestation though.

Ride on guys, Oluwa's involved.

wow...ends shall never wonder....is this what our highly knowledgeable leaders think we need right now?

SECONDED

dare2think:

[size=15pt]Constant Electricity is more important!!![/size]

This administration will always search for any looting avenue no matter what it takes.

Judas V: wow...ends shall never wonder....is this what our highly knowledgeable leaders think we need right now?

Can you just shut tha fxck up already?

If they do, we see faults, and if they keep mute we fire them.

Have you ever tried the option of praying for God's guidance towards them?

;DThe right thing at the wrong time is a wrong thing.

First of all, before we begin to embark on these outer galaxy trips make we solve a few of the fundamental problems we have : electricity and water. If we achieve these two then we fit waka anywhere on this galaxy.....with 9ja swagger sef

supaeagles: First of all

Go down low.

@topic

LWKMD..... Daz all

Nigeria is not ready yet for space travel. Heck even South Africa with all its economic and infastructural advancements have not even considered this silly move. He whose house is on fire does not chase rats. We have more pressing wahalas to spend our little money on.

Even when we just release our first made in Nigeria motorcycle. It us quite a wild dream.

As the largest Black nation, I see nothing wrong with being aspirational.
Who knows if there are Black inhabitants on Mars waiting to be discovered ([s]suspends reason and goes into illuminati mode[/s])

Policewoman: Nigeria is not ready yet for space travel. Heck even South Africa with all its economic and infastructural advancements have not even considered this silly move. He whose house is on fire does not chase rats. We have more pressing wahalas to spend our little money on.

Madam u dey the system na. Launching unmanned rockets na die and many advanced countries still get it wrong and Naija wan train astronauts..... Of course its just another area to which they can allocate budget funds for the next 10/15 years for our greedy politicians to siphon away. Anyone who believes this ish needs their head checking.

Chei! They are going to send aboki into space. Wonderful.

I wonder which direction he's going to face when he has to knock his head on the ground.

Dont worry u are neil armsrong already

Okija_juju: In other news: FG blames Aliens for Nigerias problems.. Starts training a high powered committee to travel to space to find solutions..

laughs and suffocate.

Just another looting venture, simple.