Nigeria Replaces Nigcomsat-1

The Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. (Nigcomsat), on Monday launched Nigcomsat -1R into orbit at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in South West China at 5.40 p.m. Nigeria time.

A statement from the organisation said that Nigcomsat-1R was the replacement for Nigcomsat 1, which was de-orbited on November 10, 2008.

The statement said the satellite was designed to meet various challenges in telecommunications, maritime, defence and the broadcast media in Nigeria, parts of Europe and Asia.

It said the satellite would be used for communications, broadcasting, tele-education, broad-band multimedia services and navigation, among others.

Signed by Mr Sonny Aragba-Akpore, the Head, Corporate Communications of NIGCOMSAT, the statement said: “Nigcomsat-1R is expected to improve the relevant national infrastructure and benefit people within its coverage.

“It will promote the economic and technological development and social progress in neighboring countries, especially the sub-Sahara African countries.

The statement said that the project was carried out in conjunction with more than 50 Nigcomsat engineers who had spent the last 31 months in China.

It said the launch was at no additional cost to Nigeria because China Space during and after the failure of Nigcomsat-1, accepted responsibility.

It also quoted the Managing Director of Nigcomsat, Mr Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, as saying that the launch was a mission fulfilled.

Government officials who witnessed the launch were the Minister of Communications and Technology; Ms Omobola Johnson, Minister of Science and Technology; Prof. Ita Ewa and Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji, among others.