House of Representatives has expressed concern over poor patronage and under-utilisation of the services of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited.
The House Committee on Information and Communication Technology, which paid a familiarisation visit to the company, also noted that facilities at NIGCOMSAT were becoming dilapidated.
NIGCOMSAT was incorporated in 2006, under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, to provide fixed satellite services, and the company currently runs two satellites – NigComSat-1 and NigComSat-1R.
Abubakar Suleija, chairman of the House Committee on ICT, told journalists shortly after the lawmakers inspected facilities at the company’s complex that he was disappointed at what he described as ‘negligence’ on the ‘board’s side’.
“This is a dilapidating structure which if it is properly put in place, Nigeria could generate trillions of naira and do away with the dependence on oil,” the lawmaker added.
Suleija observed that the establishment was in need of ‘aggressive’ interventions, particularly in the areas of policy and funding.
Abimbola Alale, managing director and chief executive officer of NIGCOMSAT, had informed the committee that ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government were not patronising the company.
Suleija said the lawmakers intended to come up with the right policy framework to ensure that the MDAs patronised the company.
The committee, in a meeting with the management of NIGCOMSAT after the inspection, expressed support for full commercialisation of the activities of the company.
Suleija noted that Nigeria would earn more revenue if the company’s activities were fully commercialised.
He also frowned on the situation whereby MDAs and private sector organisations in the country opt for foreign satellite services, instead of patronising NIGCOMSAT.
“It is a common knowledge that portfolio businessmen prefer to patronise foreign satellite resources which to me is not only expensive but a disservice to the nation,” he said.
A member of the committee, Adedeji Olajide, said the lawmakers would look at ways to ensure that NIGCOMSAT was better utilised.
“The level of utilisation is not what it needs to be but with the right policy framework in place, we are going to drive the utilisation,” he said.
Alale assured the lawmakers that the management of NIGCOMSAT would work very hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians, and also deliver on the Key Performance Indicators set for the company by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
She noted that legislative support was needed for the company to be repositioned as a key revenue earner for the country.
Alale said full commercialisation of the NIGCOMSAT’s services would generate more jobs.
She added that the company intended to set up regional offices in order to reach more Nigerians.
