Nigeria’s N40bn satellite missing from orbit
By Efem Nkanga, 11.12.2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Nigerian Commun-ications Satellite (NigComSat), which was launched into orbit over 18 months ago, is said to be missing.
 
THISDAY gathered last night that with the satellite missing from orbit, the huge amount spent by the Nigerian government, about N40 billion may have gone down the drain.

The satellite was found to have run into a technical hitch for some weeks now, according to a source, when it was discovered that it was using a technological standard that was not meant for Africa but Asia.

The materials used in the building of the satellite by the Chinese that built it were said to have also been in question.

The solar panel was said to be faulty and not working. All this was being battled with while, the Managing Director of NigComSat, Ahmed Rufai, was said to be angling for the launch of the second satellite.

The contract for the NigComSat project which was signed on December 15, 2004 in Abuja between China Great Wall Industry Corporation and the National Space Research and Development Agency was said to have cost the Federal Government over N40 billion. China was awarded the deal after it outbid 21 international.

The cost of the satellite include items such as construction, insurance, value added tax as well as the price for building one ground control station in Abuja and a backup control station in Kashi, China.

The satellite has four gateways said to be located in South Africa, China, Italy and Northern Nigeria.

The satellite,  which has a lifespan of 15 years, is being  monitored and tracked by a ground station built in Abuja while the Chinese firm, Great Wall Industry Corporation, has a ground station in Kashgar, in northwest China ’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

It will be recalled that NigComSat which is  100 per cent owned by the Federal Government, was recently given a 15 per cent stake from the Federal Government’s 49 per cent stake in NITEL.

Nigeria in May 2007 launched NigComSat into orbit with expectations of tremendous gains to the nation’s telecoms sector.

The NigComSat is a super hybrid geo-stationary satellite designed to operate in Africa, parts of the Middle East and southern Europe and was expected to digitalise the Nigerian economy and promote technological advancement in Nigeria and Africa. 

The expectation from many quarters was that NigComSat’s  carrier rocket, Long March 3-B, which blasted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province and entered the orbit accurately on May 14, would set the stage for Nigeria to consolidate on its growing profile as the technological hub of Africa and an emerging player in the global terrain.

The satellite project was supposed to enable Internet access to even the remotest rural villages, a major quest of stakeholders in recent times. It was also expected to enhance government’s economic reforms, particularly in the areas of e-learning, e-commerce, tele-medicine, tele-education, and rural telephony.

The project, according to experts, was expected to help African users save more than $900 million spent for telephony trunking and data transport services, $660 million in phone call charges and broadband access which is more than $95 million spent each year, as well as create more than 150, 000 jobs for Nigerians.

Rufai had before the launch disclosed that Nigeria would earn about $1.05billion which is N128billion yearly from NigComSat. A major part of the earnings was expected to come in from the sale and leasing of transponders from NigComSat.

Rufai had stated that  each transponder, forty in all will be sold for between $60-70 million. NigComSat currently has forty transponders, with 28 active and 12 inactive.

However despite the huge expectations of Nigerians, NigComSat has not performed to expectations. Rufai at a recent media interaction agreed that  NigComSat had  not been able to capture the market principally because of the challenges it faced from the regulatory authority.

Government sources confirmed to THISDAY the failure of the satellite in orbit. While admitting that the level the failure has gone is  mindboggling, the source disclosed that the Federal Executive Council will meet today on the matter and issue a statement on how the failure will be addressed.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=127885

now at its early stage, nigeria must wake up!! chinese hahhah hmmmmm

2nd 419 lebanese and india defrauding nigerian banks; just last week nigerian media claimed that an india man is being arrested in abuja by efcc for defrauding nigerian banks billions of naira

wetin abi na fake oyibo wey walk in with his suitcase, collect money sharp sharp;na inferioty complex or wetin

nawoo for those political monkies

thisday veiwer comment

Nigeria’s N40bn Satellite Missing from Orbit
By Efem Nkanga, 11.12.2008

COMMENTS
who
11.12.2008 19:11

Surely, the satellite was not meant to function. It is one of those ego boosting projects for OBJ. Satellite my foot!

De Jandon
11.12.2008 19:09
I am amused by many comments made on this story so far. It seems the psychic of many have been so brutalised by many years of failures in Nigeria that we no longer dare to aim high again.

Satellite projects fail, it is part of the deal! Ask any of the nations that have gone ahead of us for the number of deaths and failures they recorded on their way to greatness as we know it today. We should not all just focus on solving the lower problems, let some also focus on higher dreams, technologies developed in the space industry had helped leapfrog many lower level situations, even technology as simple as clutched pencils!

johnson
11.12.2008 18:55
Before all hell is let lose and everyone becomes an \"expert\" making ridiculous comments, satellites malfunctioning in space is not new and not strange. It happens, so many factors come to play from solar wind, meteors etc (beyond human control) to malfunctions and glitches that are not envisioned (remember the last time your computer crashed). High tech science is not exactly full proof and comments must be guarded. What is important is that it should not dampen our enthusiasm for space science. We should learn and move forward chikenan.

Father Abraham is not a priest
11.12.2008 18:53
What a sentimental claptrap situation!!! This is for the birds. The FGN would soon cook-up stories to tell Nigerians on this singular matter. Hahahahaha… talk is very cheap in Nigeria. Nonsense!!!

Kabiru Yahaya
11.12.2008 18:08
The noble intention with which this project was executed should not be mistaken. I am very confident that this highly capital intensive project will have a guarantee and warranty terms. I suggest that our legal /technical experts study the terms of the contract with our Chinese experts and invoke such terms to ensure that all problems are resolved amicably in our mutual interests. We must not allow this project to take the path of similar wastages in the old fashioned Nigeria, for we have already come of age under our current democratic dispensation. Kudos to all those who made this project a reality!

Tochie
11.12.2008 18:07
Let\'s wait till china has officially reported the satellite missing.

Nneji Chukwuma
11.12.2008 18:01
In as much as we will accept that there are always imperfections in man-made materials, we should at the same time understand that man for the past years has advanced in technologies and reduced the level of imperfections. The most advancement is seen on technologies such as
satellites. The recent announced disappearance of NigComSat should not just be taken as one of those ignored cases. The Federal Government should look into the case and set a committee to look into the cause of this great loss. The award and execution of the contract should be looked into. I believe the Government and the committee will know what to do. We should stop accepting any flimsy reasons. The funds involved are quite substantial and the hope that is dashed is indeed unimagineable.

Rowland
11.12.2008 18:01
LMAO. This is beyond embarassing. I guess some day Nigeria will wake up!

Okorie Chidi
11.12.2008 17:56
N40 Billion! What a wonderful way to make money out of poor tax payers like us. It\'s obvious that someone is hiding something, let the National Assembly look into this, maybe a public hearing or full scope investigation into the whole contract thing. Come to hear of it, China to build our satellite? Wonders will never end, when we know that china products have the shortest life span.

Olu Enoch-Moye
11.12.2008 17:56
As with all projects and Programmes in Nigeria, the owners and sponsors of the projects and programmes have no clue as to the efficacy of having or appointing certified project managers at all times. Rather we will have some dumbos on the basis of their political clout or connections (you may take your pick) parading themselves as Project Managers without even a clearly defined project board or responsibilities. It is about time Nigeria begin to execute projects and programs the proper way. We should all agree that whatever the fate of this satellite, we hope it is found as it is unquestionably beneficial to our commercial development and will certainly allow everyone get important services more cheaply and easily if successful. My appeal is that project sponsors or owners should by all means employ qualified project managers who are able to accoount and monitor these things professionally and make records available for post project review agenda including issues log and more importantly lessons learned. I very much hope the satellite resurfaces.

Turay A
11.12.2008 17:55
I really hope this is an exagerrated rumour. Was no guarantee on installation and why a Chinese company in the first place?

Akpos
11.12.2008 17:55
This is totally unacceptable! The following questions require answers: what were the terms to which nigeria agreed with China for the building of the satellite? I suppose there must be some guarantee to this project. Who were the Nigerians that oversaw that expected standards are met?Their competence is terribly being questioned. Can nothing be done right in this country? This money must not be allowed to go down the drain in this manner. Colossal waste!

www..com
11.12.2008 17:50
If this is true, why not hold the Chinese responsible?
If anything happens to the satellite , it should be them that did it.
I am sure their own satellite never go missing from the orbit.

banke
11.12.2008 17:42
Another case of missing in transit. Generators missing, ship missing, plane missing, haba guys! When will you stop all this? How can a satellite disappear kile that? This is not okada. Nigeria we haill thee.

OMOLE .I
11.12.2008 17:39
This is killing and so regressive. What the heck is wrong with this country, billion dollar question. It\'s so impossible to believe. Ah ah? I remember when the NIGCOMSAT was launched. The furor it generated over who should have more rights over it\'s administration and all that got settled. We had that enormous sum spent on it. Christ! It\'s so disheartening. One actually does begin to question the veracity of the existence of the satellite, or probably the Chinese have taken us to the cleaners in connivance with some Naija men? I mean, theories abound.
it sounds stupid calling for the matter to be investigated thoroughly. I mean it won\'t be the first call for such but with N40 billion at stake and our expectations gone down the drain, it is so worth the hopes, so Nigerians therefore call for proper investigation to be carried out by the necessary authorities and this issue dealt with properly. Otherwise, I am afraid, one is tempted to believe Nigeria is past redemption.

ELEGBEDE ADEOLU
11.12.2008 17:37
What more do we need to prove that we are in country where the decadence of our societal values is made manifest at every facet of our lives. MAY GOD BLESS THIS COUNTRY.

Ng
11.12.2008 17:35
If you look at the launch pictures carefully, you can see they never launched a rocket with a satelite! They launched a Wheelbarrow!

Tell me More
11.12.2008 17:33
N40 down the drain! Why did we go to China of all places? Why do we need to launch into space at all cost with made in China? EFCC has duty to perform here. Yes Rufai was busy terrorising the NCC to get a GSM licence and had his kinsman at the helm of affairs approve it for him. Now let me know why this man and his team should not be jailed for incompetence

Onyi Onwuta
11.12.2008 17:22
Ohhhh! What a shame with our first Naija satellite. Are you sure they followed the right procedure and also used the right components? Or maybe Maija completely relied on \"others\" China, to launch into orbit. I though Naija has lots of strong intellects. Well oops, we are always looking at how much we are going to make out of it by ignoring everything else. Maybe aliens knocked it off the orbit because they saw Nigeria\'s name inscribed on it.

Sorry better luck next time.

kemi
11.12.2008 17:11
This is really funny. They had better start thinking of another story to come up with.

Kunle (Carolina)
11.12.2008 17:07
The government should send search and rescue team to Obudu cattle ranch and its environs; who knows they may see the wreck of the sattellite and perharps locate its \"black box\" so as to ascertain why the satellite left its orbit. Maybe the Sattelite is missing \"home\"

Bosco Johnbosco
11.12.2008 16:47
As ridiculous as it may seem, who monitored the project? Was there no model before acceptance before final payment would be made in order to ascertain the quality of materials been used? Well I am not an expert in this but how come China beat 21 internationals to it, when ordinary clothes from China are inferior? If some of us can\'t buy Chinese foods or clothing, is it now something with such sophistication that we could leave to China? I am not thinking people stole it. No, my worry is China could not have been the best place to go. Again is there no warranty? So why would China not replace it? Ours was to pay you to fix it there for the agreed period. So Nigerians should ask their representative at the deal what is our stake?

jergins
11.12.2008 16:41
HABA!!!

Mokwe Chukuwma
11.12.2008 16:30
When we will stop all this nonsense? We are not fools to be told lies. Why didn\'t they check the satellite before lunch? Why now?

One day God will bring to justice all who think they can play around with tax payers money all in the name of being in government.

Now SAT3 is down and we are all running around yet we have a so-called satellite in orbit.

This is clear fraud. Someone must have had a kick-back from this project. May God help all of you.

While you are busy doing all of these,other countries are moving ahead and Nigerians relocating to other countries due to nonsense like this.Come and see capetown and see what they refer to as someone living under normal conditions.

Thiefs!!!!

ROWLAND ADEWUMI
11.12.2008 16:26
Simple Solution! Since Nigeria can’t find an ordinary crashed aircraft on land, I will suggest that the EFCC, SSS, Police, NEMA, and NASDRA should be sent into space orbit to look for the missing Satellite. N40 Billion injected into NITEL telecommunications networks will have generated large revenue if services are priced at competitive prices with the likes of MTN and GLO.

Ali Bakari
11.12.2008 16:25
Indeed it\'s disasterous for such a huge amount of investment to go in vain without benefit. The Federal Executive Council should take a drastic action & summon the contractors for onward action. We need better explanations. It is a Sun-synchronous satellite that revolves around frequently than a Geo-stationary satellite.

Chikezie Emeruem
11.12.2008 16:17
I really doubt that a satellite was really launched. I am sure it was a way for Obasanjo\'s government to loot N40bn (official figure, mind you). The only time I have ever heard of a satellite being stolen was in a James Bond movie called \"Moonraker\". Abi Naija get James Archibong now as star? Abi na E.T. thief am?

tunde
11.12.2008 16:12
In the order of priorities, satellites in space are higher than good infrastructure, education and health care services. If Nigeria does not have a satellite in space I guess it will not develop.

Dayo
11.12.2008 16:10
This is what happens when people who cannot do the simple things correctly-electricity, good health, roads, education, etc start to dabble into what they have no business looking at. Even if we had to do this, we should have left it to the private sector not another government agency that no doubt used this as another vehicle to embezzle and misappropriate funds for personal gain. Imagine, 40 billion naira down the drain when we are still exporting polio all over the world, when life expectancy is lower, infant and maternal mortality are higher than in places like the Gaza strip and only comparable to the situation in Afghanistan where there is an ongoing war.

Ephraim.Kilobas
11.12.2008 15:58
For God sake who is fooling who? How can Chinese take a whole giant of Africa for granted? Nigeria should organise a press conference with those Chinese crooks. They should not only explain but also apologise to everybody in this our great country.

Umar
11.12.2008 15:57
This is one of the saddest and most ridiculous things I\'ve heard this year. I sincerely hope the insurance mentioned will cover the amount used, though the incalculatable damage this loss has caused businesses can never be quantified. I also hope that the matter will be investigated to reveal any abracadabra done if any during the construction of the satellite and those found guilty brought to book( If any). Why should it be now that the issue of questionable materials come in? For such a big project no stone should ve been left unturned to ensure good quality.

Asangansi UE
11.12.2008 15:54
Satellites are controlled by ground stations through tracking data transceived by on-board telemetry transceivers. However, these transceivers are susceptible to failure which could be catastrophic (if the back-up fails too). Satellites are self-diagnostic they can fix themselves. If this happens, the satellite can be located again. So don’t be surprised if the news reads that the satellite has been located tomorrow. I’m not in any way suggesting that this is a normal behaviour in satellite systems. All I’m saying is that it is not absurd. Let’s not get all cynical about this development.

Despite all these, I believe we have the wherewithal to defy this seeming false start and yet develop the most formidable Satellite Agency in the world. Yes! I mean the World!

SBB
11.12.2008 15:43
Hmmnn another White Elephant Project. Tax payers monies gone down the drain. Mr. President kindly use your office to look into this and the culprits should be made to face the laws of the land. We need a CHANGE

Harrison Offiong
11.12.2008 15:42
Only in Nigeria!!!! 40 bllion down the drain. We still don\'t have constant power supply in this country and we have the audacity to let a N40 billion satellite disappear. I guess thats what you get for flying when you can\'t even walk.

IGBODUDU, Andrew
11.12.2008 15:39
The first time it was a ship that was missing, then followed by a plane and now a satellite. Only God knows what will be missing next?. I pray that this story is not true.

Nnamdi
11.12.2008 15:37
Who are responsible? Who awarded the contract? Who release the funds? Mention names please? We need to know who these criminals are?

Ikenna Ozioko
11.12.2008 15:34
I won\'t be surprised when one day, our country disappears and our map vanishes from the world. Or one day one or two of my testicle would miss or increase to four or five. All these are possible so far we dey for Naija. Thanks guys.

Salele
11.12.2008 15:29
I guess the Chinese contractors and their pay masters, the former president and professor Boroface will surely have a lot of explanation to make. This is very sad.


Mo
11.12.2008 15:26
In the history of space satellite deployment, it is not news that a satellite fails. No country has a 100% clean record on this, not even US, Russia, China and the EU. Nigerians don\'t need to castigate or put down this effort through which we are learning tangible and beneficial lessons. More than N40b goes into the pockets of Nigerian politicians annually. What have we learnt from their pockets? Ogunjinmi Abiodun: Intelsat was one of the consultants for the project. And please, not knowing about satellite failures before indicates that you are not so much into the field. Recently, a US spy satellite failed and it was shot down.

MKO.Opkoji-Germany
11.12.2008 15:26
Basket mouth don open mouth agian ooo! Who is foolling who? Na nijia or na Chinco? Abeg make una return the thing before we go open our eyes.

Wole O
11.12.2008 15:23
I hope the National Intelligence agency will rise to the occassion to investigate this. I suspect a conspiracy theory involving foreign intelligence and rogues to truncate the economic values of the project. Imagine the money being made by the telecom firms in Nigeria. Check out the case of Ajaokuta and I challenge anyone who holds a contrary opinion to tell me why.

Akahson
11.12.2008 15:20
It is not hard that a satellite could be missing in the orbit.
Who is responsible for this CHIANA OR NIGERIA. It is time we try to review or much trust on technology on Chinise hand. Nicomsat1 launched by Russia is there with no complaints. Why China?

Nigeria, we are still far more behind the globe. May God help us to wake up.
Evan Akahson.

Anonymous
11.12.2008 15:18
I don\'t think \"missing\" is a correct term. It is more likely that the satellite has simply stopped transmitting, but is still there. Satellites in GSO don\'t tend to move around too much.

John Okoro
11.12.2008 15:04
Well, if a ship can disappear in Nigeria, why are we surprised about a satelite missing in the vastness of space? Have you ever wondered why it had to be a Chinese company that built it?

Joachim Aroh
11.12.2008 15:02
My father told me the day the satellite was being launched to orbit that we are launching corruption to outer space. He has been vindicated. This is next level corruption.

Theo
11.12.2008 15:01
Is it our trade mark to always be at the wrong side of destiny? How can a satellite be missing?
This one reminds me of the unwholesome contractors the last administration used in executing projects. It\'s a big shame to us. At this point, it really feels terrible to be a Nigerian. While others are working hard to pay taxes and right our image, some people in government have sworn to waste our resources. This story is a hoax.

tonye (Frankfurt)
11.12.2008 13:58
Who stole the satellite? Was it really there? Chei, Nigeria, una go kill me-o!!

ogunjinmi Abiodun 11.12.2008 13:13
This is ridiculous and disheartening. For the first time I heard about a tested and operational satellite missing from the orbit. Do we have standards and quality in this country at all? What was the acceptance procedure followed before the handing over of the project? You can imagine how many companies will be suffering right now. The whole of Galaxy backbone - a 2500 satellite node project is grounded. We need to embrace the idea of doing it right at the first time. Intelsat, Newskies satellite has been in operation for years and this does not happen. We need to check the people at the helm of affairs. Just 18months ago, MAY GOD DELIVER US

Olisa11.12.2008 12:57
You guys must be joking! Nigeria will never fail to amuse me. Can you imagine, N40 billion down the drain just like that. How can you tell me at this stage that the materials used in building the satellite are questionable. If proper feasibility studies were done, we won\'t be talking about \"satellite\" missing from orbit.

from thisday veiwers

Ship disapper from port, satellite missing and india's and lebanese defraud nigeria banks,  nigeria can be amusing unusual country with unsual happenings,  come and c nigeria wonder

hahha i tell ya haha

oh wel

LOL, yes, Nigeria can really be funny at times as is being showcased on this thread. Are we actually going to make this about "chinese defrauding Nigerians"? Now that in itself is funny because by so doing it will just seem all so deliciously hypocritical. How many people abroad have been defrauded by Nigerians? And now people want to scream bloody murder at the possibility of such occuring to Nigerians? The huge irony is the fact that while the people in Nigeria are the "screwees" in all of this, the "screwers" have very rarely if ever at all been foreigners but the Nigerian government and leaders whom the populace continue to allow to walk all over them. Do people really believe thay if such a thing happeneed it could have happened without some politicians or Nigerian civil servants etc taking a very huge cut? However, as usual the eye is shifted off the real causes and focused on outsiders who could hardly have been able to pull off such a stunt (if it did occur) without conivance or blessing of some high up people in the Nigerian side of things. So please may we all be spared the phony outrage? IBB, Abacha, OBJ, Peter Odilli, James Ibori, Alams, etc, these names will continue to hunt Nigerians when they attempt to fake bravery or fake "growing a pair" at outsiders. Why the shock at being 419ed? Isn't the citizenry used to it by now? Infact public looters are celebrated and are allowed to keep their wealth so what is all the fuss?? I might seem harsh and even offensive to some but the very idea that anyone can make this about someone else defrauding Nigerians is quite irritating. When is this country going to grow up??

chineke meeeeeeeeee , who did this , our property

Everything Nigerian always has K LEG.

Chai!! na which kain country God come put me into wey person no fit hear anything good. I hope I'm among the successfully winners of this year US Visa lottery. Make man pikin waka from this country.

I got a call early today from my younger bro telling me this rubish new. we all celebrated when they launched this thing. this was what i said at the thisday website.

ikeyman00:


www..com
11.12.2008 17:50
If this is true, why not hold the Chinese responsible?
If anything happens to the satellite , it should be them that did it.
I am sure their own satellite never go missing from the orbit.

There is no need blaming anybody, This Chinese and those HAUSA people who gave them the contract will have to go to the orbit and locate the sat.

Its just sad this is happenning, why do we always have the habit of being known for bad news, satellite, missing, ship missing, even oil rigs get missing in Nigeria. I think something should be done and quickly too. There is no way a country can advance without information, it helps you plan, it helps you build, it helps you strategise and know what may happen and how to avert it. We are could a 'developing' country and would seem to remain so until we can get our acts together and leave the duldrums of inprosperity and ignorance that still chases us around. Until that happens, we will never be looked at seriously amongst the comity of nations. I really wish my country well.

it is pathetic

can a satellite just get lost? this is outrageous. this whole project has been a colossal waste of money. i haven't heard of a satellite just getting lost before so i think nigeria don set record for that level. why our gov't de always do us like this. the chinese have obviously ripped us off

Well I guess we'll collect the insurance and have another one launched hopefully by a more reliable team. The stuff setup already shouldn't be wasted.

imagine that billions spent in nigerian roads nationwide; 4 inch thick tarred hmmm

something need to give way

It is so disappointing being a Nigerian, I don know why I am still holding on to the passport, I think its time to have a rethink. First a ship went missing, then an oil rig, now a satellite? PATHETIC!!!!!

NIGERIAN SATELLITE BATTERY DEAD, NOT LOST IN SPACE

Wed 12 Nov 2008, 17:53 GMT


By Felix Onuah

ABUJA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria's government said on Wednesday that its $340 million communications satellite was not lost in space, as reported by the local media, but that it was simply suffering from a flat battery.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, blasted off from a launch pad in China in May 2007 to great fanfare, with Nigeria hoping it would offer advanced telecoms, broadcasting and broadband multimedia services for 15 years.

Minister of state for Science and Technology Alhassan Zaku said engineers at ground stations in Abuja and China had noticed the satellite's solar-powered battery was not recharging and feared it could smash into other satellites if left unrepaired.

"After looking at the options we decided that the best thing to do was to park it, like you park a car," Zaku said.

"If it wasn't parked and it lost all its power there would be no energy to even move it ,  and it would be like a loose cannon and would keep rolling about and hit other satellites in the orbit," he told reporters.

Nigerian newspapers had reported NIGCOMSAT-1 was missing from orbit.

The satellite was supposed to make Africa's most populous nation a technological hub, saving broadband users and phone users hundreds of millions of dollars a year and enabling Internet access to remote rural villages.

Critics say the project, estimated to have cost the government 40 billion naira ($340 million), has done little to improve communications, with Internet connections notoriously unreliable and among the most expensive in the region.

Zaku said the satellite was insured and that it would be replaced if it could not be repaired. He said customers had been assured that television, radio and Internet services affected by the problem would be re-routed.

Nigerian Internet users have already been battling with service problems after damage to the South Atlantic Terminal III (SAT-3) underwater cable, the main gateway to the country for international calls and Internet connections.

Nigeria's formerly state-owned telecoms firm Nitel said last month it had invited foreign firms to help it fix the cable. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ ) (Writing by Nick Tattersall)

So, guys just lighten up a bit.

to what use have they put the satellite? this thing has been floating in space since launch. i don't think it makes any difference whether it's lost or not.

to what use have they put the satellite? this thing has been floating in space since launch. i don't think it makes any difference whether it's lost or not.

hahha

NIGERIAN SATELLITE BATTERY DEAD, NOT LOST IN SPACE

Wed 12 Nov 2008, 17:53 GMT


By Felix Onuah

eyaa ooo beni kajikwo

na wah o!
nija!
she na that red 'tiger head ' battery they put inside am? why dem use fake battery now?
ok na china sef!

@topic,

My one question is this: Does the insurance premium paid as part of the N40 billion cover this MIA satellite?

tay

absolutely no idea; ur guess is good as mine, just keepin close eyes, i guess my buyin time, the truth will slowly come out; wait till the chinese speak when the pressure start to build up

@ Tayo-D

Yes, the the insurance company covering the NIGCOMSAT-1 is to pay fully for a new satellite if the present one is deemed to be unserviceable. Going by the conference done y the Min. of Science and Technology on AIT today, he assured nigerians that two options are available, service the the present one or build and launch a new one both at no cost to nigeria.

reindeer, U really make me laugh I mean real laugh but I understand your point and that is indeed very funny.

Now to the point on ground, The Satellite was not really missing but with a dead battery and it has been well packed in a Garage in space to avoid collision with other Satellite around it, however I will like to implore us Nigerians to be a bit patient with the Government and the people concerned about this issue before we can make any contribution to this, however I will implore us all to monitor this issue to avoid been shortchanged by the Government should in case they have any thing to hide on this issue.

Channels news just said NigComSat says the satellite is not missing. . .its just the battery that is flat

They should shuttle Obasanjo and the head of the China corperation in a non recoverable shuttle into orbit to locate the satelite and fix original energizer battery to the satelite.

This is one of the reasons why some of us are not proud to be called Nigerians.

Actually, I have no problems being called a Nigerian. Just that I don't get the whole PROUD to be anything but my mama's  kid aspect or God's child part of it all. This problem has more to do with what you see happening on here than it has to do with government as we love to throw it all at them. The fact is we are so divided that these people are willing and able to throw around this sort of nonsense with no fear of repercussion from the people. How you go come tell person say you loose satellite in OPEN SPACE in the year 2008. NA WINCH take am?? Roflmao!!!

This has nothing to do with China, this has everything to do with us as Nigerians. Do you think the Chinese government would ever allow it's own satellite to get lost in space? I mean come on!! We are talking of a 40 billion naira investment here. If I buy car for 100k, na so I go dey watch am 24/7 to make sure no one steal the thing. And the government open eye korokoro allow a 40 biillion naira satellite float away into space? I no believe this one o!!!

Nigeria firm denies Africa's first comms satellite missing in orbit

Wed, 12 Nov 2008

Abuja - Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited on Wednesday denied allegations that Africa's first communication satellite was missing in orbit. Ahmed Rufai, Managing Director of the company, a public-private partnership, said that the satellite was powered down after technical problems were identified on Sunday night.
"We, in collaboration with our Chinese counterparts, identified some problems on Sunday and had to switch off the satellite to enable us to carry out fault analysis of the situation," he said, adding that the satellite was fully insured.
Chinese embassy officials in Nigeria declined to comment.
The Nigerian press had widely reported Wednesday that the satellite had disappeared in orbit.
The China Great Wall Industry Corporation built the satellite at a cost of 256 million dollars. It was launched from the Xichang space launch centre in south-west China's Sichuan province on May 14, 2007.
The satellite was designed to serve as the strategic backbone for Nigeria's communication industry.
It was also meant to provide the much-needed bridge to close the digital divide being experienced by African nations and provide the enabling platform for Africa to be relevant in today's information age and digital economy.
The NIGCOMSAT-1 project was designed to cover a host of requirements in sectors such as security and surveillance, banking, oil and gas, telecommunication, internet services, among others.

Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/241322,nigeria-firm-denies-africas-first-comms-satellite-missing-in-orbit.html

nija sha!

talk about chines 419, well u know what they say'whats good 4 the goose is good 4 the gander'.I guess we now know how it feels to be on the receiving end of an international scam.talk about having a dose of your own medicine

Why they no carry mopol and siren follow the satellite? Boys fit go space, go arrange the thing. Abi no be government property again?