Nigeria has announced plans to send its first citizen into space, marking a historic milestone in the country’s space exploration efforts.
The Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Mathew Adepoju, disclosed this during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
Adepoju revealed that the Nigerian government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to facilitate this ambitious venture. The collaboration is set to coincide with Nigeria’s 25th anniversary in space exploration, promising new avenues for scientific research and technological advancement.
“This initiative underscores Nigeria’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in space exploration and harnessing the benefits of space technology,” Adepoju stated during the announcement.
The decision comes amid recent concerns raised by NASRDA regarding the underutilization of domestic technology in addressing maritime security challenges. The agency highlighted that Geo-Stationary Satellites could potentially resolve up to 90 percent of the security issues plaguing Nigeria’s maritime sector.
