Nigerian Astronaut Will be in Space by 2030 - Minister of Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu

Posted by Odinaka on Fri 25th Mar, 2016 - tori.ng

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is putting all the structures on ground to ensure that a Nigerian astronaut lands in space on or before 2030, Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu said.

Ogbonnaya Onu and President Buhari

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday when the management team of the Defence Space Agency, led by the director-general, Victor Udoh, the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, has said a Nigerian astronaut will land in space by 2030.

According to him, the passage of the budget will accelerate work on the country’s space programme, adding that the importance of space technology to a country’s development cannot be overempahsised, adding that the federal government was putting all the structures on ground to ensure that Nigerian astronauts landed in space on or before 2030.

On the launch of Nigeria’s astronaut in 14 years’ time, Onu said: "On or before 2030, we can do it before with the programme and infrastructure that we have. Space technology is very important to protect our national interest as we already have satellite in space.

"All the things that is needed in the budget that has just being passed, and from this year we will commence the implementation of the programme that we have and because of the importance of space to the wellbeing of the nation, we will work very hard to launch a Nigerian astronaut before 2030."

He said, Nigeria has the capability to successfully carry out space programmes, adding that the NIGCOMSAT-1 programme, which was the country’s first satellite, was designed and assembled by Nigerians though launched with the assistance of other country.

"We have developed the capacity to design and so once assemble the last stage is the capacity to launch and we believe very strongly that with the support from President Muhammadu Buhari, we will utilize whatever limited resources that we have in a very efficient manner to make sure that we make the nation proud," he said.

"The space programme is very important for a country like Nigeria. The ministry will work very hard in the years ahead to strengthen all the structures of the agencies that will help us to ensure that the nation plays a role in the space.

"We believe that this is achievable and we are working very hard to make sure that all the structures that are needed is provided."

He added that the ministry would intensify efforts to ensure that all the arrangements needed were provided. According to him, 'the space is a major asset which nations like Nigeria must also be involved in for the purposes of protecting national interest.'