ZHUL-QI’DA 25, 1429 A.H.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2008
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Nigerian Communications Satellite-1 (NigComSat-1): Missing in action (MIA) (I)
By Abubakar A Nuhu-Koko
This writer had on several occasions, commented on Nigeria’s lacklustre and muddled Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy that is more often than not, intertwined with the nation’s confused Science, Engineering and Technology and Space Research and Development and Telecommunications (Telecoms) Policies.
Of particular concern then and now, were (are): a) the issues of the mismatches in articulating clear, implementable and sustainable national ICT, Space Science, Technology and Research and Development, and Telecoms Policies for the nation and b) management of the nation’s critical ICT, Space Science, Technology and Research and Development and Telecoms infrastructure.
For instance, not long ago, two separate federal ministries were responsible for these activities; namely, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Communications.
However, in the twilight of former President Obasanjo’s administration, in 2007, he reorganized the federal ministries and in that process, the Federal Ministry of Communications and the Federal Ministry of Information were merged together to produce the present day Federal Ministry of Information and Communications; muddling further, the already existing chaotic and confused situation.
In addition to these key ministries, several extra-ministerial agencies were created to translate the sectoral policies into programs and projects. Some of these agencies include the following:
a) the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
b) the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA);
c) the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS) - all belonging to the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and,
d) the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) - the Telecoms sector and industry regulator under the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications and,
e) the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) established by the NCC.
In the same maddening and chaotic situation, a number of “well intended” (as usually claimed by Abuja policy hawks) programs and projects were initiated and implemented by the then President Obasanjo’s administration (1999-2007). These include for example:
a) privatization of the nation’s flagship national telecoms companies and their most valued assets and infrastructures such as:
1.) the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL Ltd.) and its cash cow - the South Atlantic-3 (SAT-3) undersea cable; and 2) Mobile Telecommunications Limited (M-Tel Ltd.).
b) The acquisition and launching of two Nigerian premier and flagship Satellites – the Nigerian Satelite-1 (NigeriaSat-1) and the Nigerian Communications Satellite-1 (NigComSat-1);
c) The incorporation of a new federal government-owned communications Satellite company – NigComSat Ltd; with the mandate to commercially manage NigComSat-1; and the subsequent additional units to be added in the near future and
d) The incorporation of a new federal government-owned Internet Broadband Backbone company – Galaxy Broadband Backbone Plc (i.e., GalaxyBB Plc).
The policy inconsistency to be pointed out here is that, paradoxically, out of the ashes of the privatized NITEL Ltd/SAT-3 and its sister Mobile phone unit, M-Tel Ltd, the two new federally-owned companies that emerged as mentioned above, were crafted to provide the same and or similar functions; services and products which were hitherto being provided by the same NITEL Ltd/SAT-3 and M-Tel Ltd (now under the ownership of Transcorp, Plc).
In addition, these two new federal government-owned companies are to compete in the same markets for customers/clients for the same and or similar services and products for which several private companies have been handsomely licensed to provide by the NCC since 1998/1999.
Ironically however, all these activities have been taking place notwithstanding the federal government’s continued implementation of its existing neoliberal deregulation, liberalization and privatization agenda.
This further compounds the chaos. For example, there are bundles of confusion and contradictions going on here. And, no one seems to care a hoot in drawing the attention of the Presidency and or the National Assembly about it. But this is not surprising to say the least as there are a lot of economic rents being created from this deliberately created confused and chaotic situation.
The economic rents so created are creamed and siphoned by some special interests. This is the real situation as far as the fate of the much touted Nigeria’s “breakthrough” in the acquisition and launching of the country’s flagship Communications Satellite – NigComSat-1 (now, a failed one, so far) and national and international chest-beating that Nigeria has joined other industrially and scientifically advanced nations in Space Sciences, Technology and ICT enterprises.
At least, India has recently successfully launched a Space Mission to the Moon and a number of Asian, Middle-Eastern and South American nations and private companies have various kinds of Satellites orbiting the space. Thus, Nigeria, the African giant must join the league by all means and at all cost according to policy hawks in Abuja.
There is nothing wrong in aspiring and be seen to be part of the global advancement in Space sciences/technologies and acquisition of other advanced technological knowledge, capacity and products. However, if this must be done, it must be done properly and in the nation’s overall national interest and not for the sake of blindly advancing and massaging some private egos, aggrandisements and interests as were (is) in the cases of the following seemingly likely ill-fated money guzzling “White Elephant” projects and program: NigeriaSat-1 (NigeriaSat-2 is on its very way soon); NigComSat-1; NigComSat Ltd and Galaxy Broadband Backbone Plc (i.e. GalaxyBB Plc) and the faulty privatization of NITEL Ltd/SAT-3 and M-Tel Ltd to the controversial Nigeria Transnational Corporation Plc (i.e., Transcorp Plc.).
As the ill-fated NigComSat-1 (and all the other similar projects listed above) were conceived as vanity “White Elephant” projects and programs, Nigeria is today faced with the grim prospects of losing its huge hurriedly invested funds in acquiring and launching these “White Elephant” Satellites that are likely to continue to disappear without trace in space as was the case last week with the ill-fated NigComSat-1.
Whichever arguments and reasons, that could be advanced by the managements and bosses of NigComSat-1, the state-owned commercial outfit created to run its affairs, NigComSat Ltd and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the fact of the matter is that the immediate past administration of President Obasanjo was misadvised, “captured” by Abuja policy hawks and railroaded by contract pushers to embark upon the above listed vanity “White Elephant” projects and programs that now constitute a huge drain and sunk costs to the nation’s treasury.
For example, NigComSat-1, which reportedly cost the nation about N40 billion, was launched amid fanfare in China during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in April 2007 by the Great Wall Industry Corporation of China.
It is now presumably lost without any possible trace in space. It may be on its way down to the earth and be lost completely.
Looking back in history, this is not different from a similar sad incidence involving Obasanjo’s previous military administration’s poor handling of gargantuan money guzzling Telecoms project that was based on an untested technology then in the 1970s. That project was an ill-fated controversial “Aerostat Balloon Station Project” meant for the then defunct Nigerian Post and Telecommunications Company (P & T), the forerunner of the present day NITEL Ltd/Transcorp Plc. The project became a “White Elephant” and was later abandoned by the company contracted to build it after collecting all its mobilization fees etc.
Again, the nation is now back to the same old tricks of yesteryears and is now left second-guessing on what went wrong and why. The bosses responsible for the day-to-day running and upkeep of the now ill-fated Space junk are at the moment, busy churning out official statements trying to convince the largely ill-informed Nigerian general public of what is going on.
Sadly speaking, they are even refusing to acknowledge the truth that the Satellite is lost for good. This is very sad and unfortunate development.
However, the nation is accustomed to such never-ending embarrassing circumstances. And generally, the public are not bemused either – it is business as usual. No one is going to take responsibility for what has happened and expectedly, no one is going to be asked to account for what has happened either. But some people will be smiling to the bank.
