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Should Nigeria be Sending Astronauts to Space by 2015?
The declaration by the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa that Nigeria would send astronauts to space by 2015 has sparked up some controversy on news and social media with many arguing that sending astronauts to space is not what Nigeria needs.

The Minister made the declaration yesterday that Nigeria would launch three satellites and send astronauts to space by 2015.

At the ongoing ministerial briefing to commemorate 2012 Democracy Day and anniversary of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Prof. Ewa enumerated the country’s space programme from now to 2028 when it expects to launch a made-in-Nigeria satellite into space. The move, he said, was part of the government efforts to boost the economy through space technology.

“In 2015 we are preparing to launch NigeriaSAR-1 satellite. The NigeriaSAR is a security satellite with an acronym that stands for Synthetic Aperture Radar.

“This satellite will have a very high resolution that can cover kilometres, and for a backup of the communication satellite there will be NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-3.

“Also because of the experience we gained in Surrey, UK, we are going to build an Assembly Integration and Testing Centre for satellite technology, it is ongoing but this year we will put in more efforts to that technology.

“And before I leave office in 2015 we will send a Nigerian Astronaut into space.’’

While the effort to boost Nigeria’s space technology is laudable, many have argued that there are other aspects of the economy the government can channel its efforts into. Some say that Nigeria should focus on developing the satellite technology on ground first rather than make plans of going into space. Others say that going to space is going to require a huge capital investment which shouldn’t be the country’s priority now.

What’s your opinion? Is going to space a tall order for Nigeria? Is Nigeria capable of sending astronauts to space by 2015? Should Nigeria be sending astronauts to space now?

Please share your thoughts.

Nigeria says it will send aloft astronauts by 2015 and launch three satellites.

Minister of Science and Technology Ita Okon Bassey Ewa announced this at a briefing here to commemorate Democracy Day 2012 and the anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. He said the move was part of government's efforts to boost the economy through space technology.

The minister enumerated the country's space programme from now to 2028 when it expects to launch a Made-in-Nigeria satellite into space, Xinhua reported.

"In 2015 we are preparing to launch NigeriaSAR-1 satellite. The NigeriaSAR is a security satellite with an acronym that stands for Synthetic Aperture Radar," he said on Thursday.

"This satellite will have a very high resolution that can cover many kilometers, and for a backup, there will be NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-3," Ewa said.

"Also because of the experience we gained in Surrey, we are going to build an Assembly Integration and Testing Center for satellite technology. It is ongoing but this year we will put in more efforts to that technology," he said.

"And before I leave office in 2015 we will send a Nigerian astronaut into space," he said.

The minister said by 2018 Nigeria would launch a manufactured satellite and in 2025 develop a rocket and propulsion system.

ABUJA Nigeria, west Africa’s regional powerhouse, will deploy troops to Guinea-Bissau this week, Defence Minister Bello Haliru Mohammed said on Monday at a meeting of ECOWAS defence chiefs.

-A Cross Section of ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan today Monday at the State House in Abuja

“I will like to announce to you that the pledges made by Nigeria for the Guinea-Bissau and Mali mission, we are committed to them and our troops are ready. In Guinea-Bissau, we will deploy before the 18th of this month,” he said.

He told newsmen that the Nigerian troops would complement the one battalion of military peace-keepers which the ECOWAS is sending to the West African country.

Mohammed made the declaration after a meeting held between President Goodluck Jonathan and ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff.

“As you know our sub-region is plagued with challenges of insecurity and also instability in some of the countries.

“The CDS (Chiefs of Defence Staff) are here to discuss how the intervention of ECOWAS will help to bring security and to stabilise the country where instability is rearing its head, this is on the instruction of the Head of States of the ECOWAS.

“On Guinea Bissau, a decision is already made that a military contingent from the ECOWAS will be sent to assist the government in maintaining law and order.

“Nigeria, as a leading member of ECOWAS, will participate when invited.

“The ECOWAS is sending one battalion but the contribution of Nigeria depends on when we are invited.

The minister said that ECOWAS was yet to take decision on whether it would send troops to another troubled member state, Mali.

He said that the meeting with the president was on the challenges of insecurity and instability in the two ECOWAS member states.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petinrrin, said the military was prepared for the assignment anytime an invitation was received.

“The decision to send troops will be made by government. Our job is to be prepared so that when they decide to deploy we will be ready.

“And, it is possible they have decided, but have not announced it,’’ he said.

Petinrin said that with the intervention of ECOWAS, a lot of progress had been made in resolving the political crises in the two countries.

“Right now, we have constitutional order; the two countries are no longer been headed by military people because they were told in certain terms that it will not be accepted and they have stepped down in both countries.’’

Following respective coup d’états in Mali and Guinea Bissau, ECOWAS and other international organisations took steps to restore democratic order in both countries.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the respective junta to ensure compliance to its protocols on zero tolerance for military rule.

At the extra-ordinary meeting of ECOWAS in Dakar on May 3, President Jonathan recommended stiffer sanction for the military junta for their failure to accede to the demands of the sub-regional bloc.

Jonathan urged ECOWAS to take stringent decisions in accordance with its avowed commitment to the cause of democracy and constitutionality.(AFP & NAN)

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