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Jonathan Inaugurates Committee To Develop Guidelines For Space Activities

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally inaugurated a 13-member National Space Council (NSC) to develop policy guidelines for activities in space and monitoring the implementation of … Continue reading Jonathan Inaugurates Committee To Develop Guidelines For Space Activities


President Goodluck Jonathan has formally inaugurated a 13-member National Space Council (NSC) to develop policy guidelines for activities in space and monitoring the implementation of the national space programme.

Headed by him as Chairman and Vice President Namadi Sambo as Vice-Chairman, members of the NSC include the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and three professors including Vincent Olunloyo, Elijah Mshelia, and Fransisca Okeke.

Others are the ministers of Mines, Muhammad Sada; Education, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i; Science and Technology, Ita Ewa; National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman; Interior, Abba Moro; Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson and Defence (State), Olusola Obada.

The NSC which is the nation’s highest policy making body on space development was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa, Tuesday.

Speaking prior to the inauguration, President Jonathan charged the Council with the responsibility of developing policy guidelines for activities in space and monitoring the implementation of the national space programme.

The Council was also reposed with the responsibility of coming up with an action plan that will enable the country utilize space technology to accelerate industrial development quickly, so that Nigeria will not only venture into space but also manufacture boats, aircrafts and other things.

According to the President, “We must evolve clear cut initiatives that will not only fast track our industrialization process but one that will also see us within the shortest possible period to be able to build our own motor vehicles, our own boats and our own aircrafts and of course launch our own satellite manufactured in Nigeria, from a launch site in Nigeria on a launch vehicle made in Nigeria.

“This is a challenge not only to the members of the council but to all Nigerians, we should dedicate ourselves to building a better technologically advanced stable and prosperous Nigeria for our children.”

He emphasised the need for their commitment in order to facilitate “actualization of the definitive goal of our space programme,” and enable “the country to maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology.”

He said, “Given the critical place of space technology in the areas of national security, communications, industrialization and sustained socioeconomic development, the critical need to properly structure and drive our national space programme cannot be over-emphasized.”