Fmr. President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Federal Government was on Saturday urged to ensure policies are effectively implemented for Nigeria’s development. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave this advice during the eighth Retired Brig.-Gen. Ogbonna Agu Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers (NISE) in Abuja.
The theme of the lecture was “Nigeria’s 21 Years in Space: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects”.
The former president noted that many policies, particularly in the area of space technology, remained unimplemented and unexecuted.
Said Obasanjo: “It is not enough to have good policies and Nigeria is not in short supply of good policies. In fact, go to our archives, it is a burial ground of unexecuted policies and therefore we are where we should not be.
“What I am trying to say is that it is not enough to have a policy. It is not enough to even have a good statement like the one my sister had made.
“We are not short of policies in this country. If you go to the archives, our archives are full of policies. But there are many dead policies, unimplemented policies, unexecuted policies.
“And therefore, we are where we should not have been. Those who have made progress have not done it on wishes but active to make progress”.
He said further that the country could not be involved in areas of national life, but areas where necessary government should ensure full implementation.
Obasanjo said the space programme from conception had launched series of satellites in a sequential pattern by both Chinese and Nigerian engineers and empowered Nigeria engineers to take full control after the launch of the second satellite.
Said he: ‘‘The programme we had for the space programme when we established this centre, if it was followed by now, Nigeria would have launched many satellites.
“We had everything put in place to launch different satellites. It was not just a programme but implementation started. I went to china and saw them.
‘‘The idea was after the first and second by Nigeria and Chinese engineers, the third will be launched by only Nigerian engineers but that did not happen.
Dr. Mathew Adepoju, Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), said the Federal Government had approved four new satellites for National Space and Satellite Programme.
Stated he: “Among these satellites, we have three optical satellites and we have one synthetic and partial random satellite”.
Adepoju, who said he intended to achieve three pillars for the agency, listed them to include transformation, staff strength and private sector-driven to boost the space development in the country.
He stated that government alone could not drive National Space Programme; that was why the private sector involvement was highly needed.
Said Adepoju: “We shall open the space for active participation of private sector in Nigeria’s space ecosystem”.
In his remarks, Dr. Umar Abdullahi, National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers, said there were setbacks related to satellite lifespan, funding limitations, policy inconsistencies and lack of manufacturing capacities.
Noted he: “These challenges have tested our resilience and raised important questions about the sustainability of space programme.
” Our journey in space has always been about more than technological success. it is about solving real world problems, combating flooding, enhancing food security, monitoring environmental changes and improving national security.
“Satellites have given us tools to understand our world and address societal challenges”.
The Director of Research, NASRDA, Prof. Rabiu Babatunde, said the way forward in addressing the challenges had to do with replacement of space assets- new satellites constellation reviewed road map, strategic international partnership, commercialisation of Research Outputs
He said others included the development of Industrial engineering and inventions complex, establish space technology and innovation fund as well as space economic paradigm shift- Public Private Partnership.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was among 10 people who were given awards for their immense contribution to space technology development.
