Government halts plans to privatise communication satellite firm

ayodele johnson

February 17, 2016 8:36 AM

The government has also initiated plans concerning its intention to acquire more satellites through foreign funding estimated to be a sum of $700m

Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu

According to the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, the Federal Government of Nigeria will no longer pursue plans to privatise the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.

While speaking to journalists in Abuja, he said embarking on the plan will amount to short changing Nigerians.

The plan to privatise NigComSat was initiated under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan which led a massive protest by workers of the organisation.

The minister stated that the government will rather acquire more satellites so as to meet customers demands and also gain the repute of being a major dealer in the business.

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He said, “The private sector itself has the freedom to put resources together and establish satellites if they feel they need them. This is one national treasure, which I don’t believe must be seeded to the private sector.

“We as Nigeria must have something we can collectively call our own; something that must remain our national pride. So, for anybody to want to sell this national pride is a mere attempt to short-change Nigeria and all Nigerians.

“So, as long as I am Minister of Communications, I will never be party to any such unholy sale, because it does not protect Nigeria’s best national interest.”

The government has also initiated plans concerning its intention to acquire more satellites through foreign funding estimated to be a sum of $700m.

ayodele johnson