NAN-H-89
Funding
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Nov.10, 2016 (NAN) The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has expressed satisfaction with the utilisation of fund released to the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in the 2016 budget.
The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Beni Lar, made the statement during an oversight visit by the committee to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
She said that NASRDA had done well in disbursing funds released on space technology projects, staff development and so on.
“Developing space technology is not an easy thing, it needs a lot of strength and capacity to do well in the sector, NASRDA has done a lot in terms of human capital development.
“NASRDA has really done well in respect to what has come to them; we have seen the projects on ground.
“ We have seen what is going on in its dome, the ground receiving station, the incubation centre; there is a lot of expansion and improvement in science and technology.
“In this year’s budget, there is significant increase on appropriation and I think it justifies that in next year’s budget, they should give it a better and higher increase in appropriation.
“The agency is actually doing very well as Obasanjo space centre is ranked as one of the best space centres in Africa, it has over 500 researchers and engineers.”
Lar noted that appropriation for the agency in the 2016 budget was increased but the agency needed to be better funded.
“ The nation will be launching nano-satellite which will be major achievement, there should be some strength and capacity on ground to meet those targets, NASRDA has done well in disbursing released funds.”
Responding, Prof. Mohammed Seidu, Director-General, NASRDA, said 73 per cent of the 2016 budget had been released to the agency.
“The sum of N968 million was appropriated for us in this year’s budget, 79 per cent of it has so far been released.
“Construction is going on in our planetarium, ground receiving station, and advance computerisation building among others.
“We paid N200m to survey Satellite Technology this year for our launched satellite while we have also paid our counterpart fund for the launch of new educational satellite-Nano-satelite.
“This satellite will be jointly launched with four other countries of Japan, Nepal, Ghana and Bangladesh to demystify science to the junior ones.
“One of our colleagues from here, currently doing his PhD on nano –satelite abroad, will lead the team as the project manager for the countries when the satellite is launched next year.
“The satellite will be singing Nigeria’s national anthem whenever it is within our territory and we are very happy about that.”
NAN reports that the agency currently, has three satellites in the space which made Nigeria to be ranked among the space nation’s in the world.(NAN)
COA/JPE/MO
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Morayo Omolade
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