According to the FG, preparations are being made to improve the nation’s satellite communication system in 2022.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, announced the development on Monday in Abuja.

During a one-day working visit and interaction with the personnel of the Nigerian Communications Satellite in Abuja, the minister stated that he had obtained President Muhammadu Buhari’s agreement to acquire another communications satellite for the nation.

He said, “That approval of the federal government, which I have secured, has been forwarded to NIGCOMSAT. Now, it is on the table of the management of NIGCOMSAT to answer that question but I want to make sure that all work in progress must be completed in 2022.”

Pantami disclosed further that he had already approved the establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT, as part of the ongoing effort to revive the institution to the path of progress and productivity.

He stressed that he had gone further to lobby the Minister of Finance to ensure that this is included in the 2022 budget.

“Since 2019, I have been so passionate about the success of NIGCOMSAT, starting with the suspension of the privatization of NIGCOMSAT.

“As a matter of fact, I have secured the approval of Mr. President for purchasing another Satellite. I went further to lobby the Minister of Finance to ensure that this is included in the 2022 budget,” The Punch quoted Pantami as saying.

The federal government had in the 2022 budget, earmarked N2.5bn for the NIGCOMSAT 2 project.

In 2017, the federal government announced plans to raise $550m for the construction of two new communications satellites for Nigeria, which the Chinese Export and Import Bank accepted to provide.

Pantami, however, yesterday noted that through innovative policies, NITDA’s revenue was increased from N7bn to N19bn annually.

“We revived NITDA and the agency has become a reference point for any IT project,” the minister said.