Mr Samson Osagie,Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development, Nigeria Communication Satellite Company Limited (NIGCOMSAT), has called on Nigerians to develop interest in the country’s satellite company.
Osagie in an interview on Thursday in Abuja, said that Nigeria must learn to develop interest and confidence in Made-in-Nigeria products and services.
He said that Nigerians needed to have confidence in NIGCOMSAT, especially those who were into ICT businesses because they had a lot to benefit.
“In terms of cost NIGCOMSAT maintains a very competitive price, we do our business in Naira, not in dollars.
“Those that are patronising foreign satellite companies, especially broadcasting houses and are paying in dollars, they don’t have to be throwing their money to other countries.
“When you do that you are exporting the labour that you are supposed to generate in your country to other countries.
“So, we need to have confidence in our people, our country, and our institutions because without confidence, there will be no development.
Osagie said that his experience in public service showed that most of the country’s procurement agencies would rather want foreign companies for their procurement.
“ Not necessarily because of the confidence or reliability but because of other things amongst which is corruption, and our quest and appetite for foreign goods are unmanageable, we need to manage it.
He said that government in recognition of the fact that Nigerians did not have confidence in themselves signed Executive order number 3.
He said that the Executive order had to do with charging government and non-government agencies to patronise services and products that were locally produced.
“And that include those who render satellite services locally and NIGCOMSAT is the only local operator; so my charge to all of them is they should have confidence in ability of local companies.”
According to Osagie, NIGCOMSAT can boast of some of the best engineers the country has produced, adding that government has invested so much in training those engineers,
He said that the fact that the company lost its first satellite some years back did not mean the end of the business; “people begin to ask if we really have a satellite”.
“ I want to say with all sense of responsibility that the NIGCOMSAT maintains and runs a satellite in the orbit at about 32.8 East in the stationary orbit above the sea level
“Most countries that are now big in satellite business today have lost so many satellites before they are able to sustain it; because of the huge technological and scientific make-up of the equipment.
He said that the company satellite control room worked 24-hours to maintain the satellite, adding that there was no threat to the efficiency of NIGCOMSAT.
“We have challenges like many government institutions in the area of funding; for the replacement of a few of our parts but we are replacing them gradually.
“We are having understanding with our equipment manufacturers who are bringing them to us.
“Those that need satellite services have a duty and should, out of patriotism, approach NIGCOMSAT for their services.
“We are ready, willing and able to give such services with a very high degree of reliability,” he added.
