…Applauds NigComSat Management and Staff
The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has stated that no other administration in Nigeria’s history has invested in ubiquitous connectivity as much as the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done.
He made the disclosure while declaring open the 2026 Satellite Week, an annual event hosted by the Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd more popularly known and called NigComSat.
“There has never been a time in the history of this country where government is backing investment in ubiquitous connectivity as much as we are doing today,” Tijani said.
“Our President is investing in 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic network, close to 4,000 telecommunication towers in rural areas and on riverine communities. And we’re also investing in two new satellites!
Indeed, according to him, “There’s absolutely no developing country today that is making that investment”
Underscoring the importance and relevance of the event, the Minister said, “I can see that there’s something that is important about this moment. The Satellite Week brings together people who typically don’t get the opportunity to sit in the same room. We meet once in a while, but not as often as we should. I’m referring to folks from within government, industry, academia, some entrepreneurs as well, as we’ve seen. And we know that we’re all working on the same question, which is ‘how do we build a more connected, more capable Nigeria?’And the timing of today cannot be better for us to come together for this occasion.
“As we all know, the world is becoming more digital. And the infrastructure that powers this digital economy, that powers communication, data, and connectivity, is also becoming more strategic. It’s the backbone of any successful economy or society today.And many of us will pay attention to the fact that satellite technology sits right at the center of that change that we seek.
“Nigeria is the only country in the West African region with its own satellite. So not only is NigComSat actually important for Nigeria, NigComSat is important for the entire region. And it allows us to extend connectivity to places where other infrastructure will take longer to get to. NigComSat also gives us something equally important in resilience and control. And that is why today, all of us at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy are extremely grateful to the decision ofPresident Bola Tinubu to move forward with the acquisition of NigComSat 2A and 2B which means we are upgrading our satellite. It shows a clear commitment by our President to building the future and not standing still.
Earlier in his speech he commended the Managing Director, the staff and all partners of the organisation noting that he was fortunate to be the Supervising Minister in charge of the organisation.
“Can we give her a round of applause? I’m happy everything that you and your team are bringing into this organization. I’m extremely fortunate, of course, to be a supervising minister for your agency. I’m grateful to Mr. President for approving that a professional be appointed into that organization because it’s an extremely technical one. Permit me to also applaud the entire NigComSat team, the engineers, the operators, the professionals, who work quietly behind the scenes, keeping this system running, and making everything that we see here today possible.
“To everyone here for the second edition of the Satellite Week, it’s also exciting to know that this is the second edition,which means we’re starting this under this administration, under the leadership of our President, and of course the CEO of NigComSat.
“Thank you to all your partners for showing up. I saw quite a number of items that have been on exhibition outside, including from the military. We are appreciating your support.
Earlier in her welcome address the Managing Director cum Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mrs. Jane Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, expressed appreciation to the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. the Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the stakeholders and various publics.
“We are deeply encouraged by the support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose approval of two additional
satellites for NIGCOMSAT represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s space programme and a clear demonstration of the
Federal Government’s commitment to sovereign satellite capability as a driver of national development and economic
competitiveness”, Egerton – Idehen said.
According to her, “The theme of this year’s event, “Harnessing Space for an
Extraordinary Nigeria,” captures precisely the moment we find ourselves in. It is a theme that challenges us not merely to celebrate
what has been achieved, but to account for it honestly and to define clearly what must come next.
“This edition of the Nigerian Satellite Week carries particular
institutional significance, coinciding with the twentieth anniversary
of NIGCOMSAT Limited. Two decades ago, Nigeria made a
sovereign decision to own its place in space. “That decision was not merely a technological milestone; it was a declaration of Nigeria’s
readiness to participate in and shape one of the most consequential industries of the modern era. In the years since,
NIGCOMSAT has grown from a single-satellite operator into a multi-service provider delivering connectivity, broadcasting
infrastructure, and broadband services to government, enterprise,and telecom clients across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
“We mark twenty years not with nostalgia, but with a clear-eyed
assessment of where we stand and what the next chapter demands of us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the work of building Nigeria’s space future
is well underway,” she said.
There were also Goodwill messages from the Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency ( NITDA), National Data Protection Commission NDPC, National Space Research and Development Agency, and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The event was well attended.