By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to ensure prompt registration and renewal of Nigeria’s orbital slots to prevent potential loss of $400 million.
The House also mandated its Committee on Digital and Communications Technology to conduct a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s current utilisation of its orbital slots and report within two weeks.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved by Muktar Shagaya at the resumed plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion, the lawmaker noted that presently, just one of the slots is utilised through NigComSat-1, leaving the other two vulnerable to reassignment if left unused by the deadline of December 6, 2024.
Shagaya explained that the expense of acquiring a new orbital slot is approximately $200 million and the loss of the slots would not only result in a significant financial loss but also impede Nigeria’s technological progress and economic development.
He pointed out that numerous factors contribute to the underutilisation of the slots, such as financial limitations, inadequate technical infrastructure and delays in policy implementation.
Shagaya expressed worry over Nigeria’s increasing competition with other countries for orbital slots, driven by the rising global demand for satellite services, which he said could lead to the permanent forfeiture of Nigeria’s assigned positions.
He said it was imperative for Nigeria to expedite satellite development processes, secure necessary funding, and explore partnerships with private companies and international space agencies to fully utilise these orbital slots.
The House therefore urged the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to intensify efforts in developing and launching satellites that would occupy our slots to prevent their forfeiture.
It further urged the Federal Government to establish an oversight mechanism to monitor progress regarding the utilisation of orbital slots and ensure compliance with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulations.
The House equally called on the “Federal Government to prioritise the protection of Nigeria’s orbital slots and investment in satellite technology to ensure the full utilisation of Nigeria’s allocated orbital slots before the impending deadline”.
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