NigComSat Corporation Bill Rings Controversy

Industry experts have said that autonomy for Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) was an invitation to failure and creation of another white elephant destined to go the way of the now moribund, Nitel, Nigeria’s beleaguered national carrier.

Failing to find justifiable reasons for the demands of autonomy by NigComSat, the experts said that the passage of the bill amounts to creation of a parallel space agency that will compromise the National Space Programme of the Federal Government.

The experts which gathered in Lagos tore the bill apart and insisted that the passage of the bill will also be a wasteful duplication as the functions of the proposed Corporation are being performed by the Nigerian Space Research and Development Agency.

Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, chairman Teledom Group fired the first salvo and cautioned that the bill, when passed, might give NigComSat the autonomy to operate as a business venture and as a regulator.

He noted that government has no business in doing business.

Ekuwem’s comment drew the ire of Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, the chief executive officer of NigComSat who clarified that the bill, in contents, does not have anything to imply that the bill will grant NigComSat a regulatory status as it has no operator to compete against.

“Contrary to the thinking of the business community, government has a business in business,” He added
 
Ahmed-Rufai also stressed that the bill will build NigComSat into maturity before becoming players like the Intelsat and other global satellite companies owned by the governments.”

He had immediate support from Yele Okeremi , member, Executive Committee of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (Ispon).

He said: “We must perceive satellite communication as critical national infrastructure which requires everything to protect including legislation and we must sit down to see that we do everything to see that this bill become a law.”

He listed technology, social perception and legislation as the tripod that must be present before a revolution can happen.

Victor Nwakesi , representative of Olisa Agbakoba & Associates, the law firm responsible for the drafting of the NigComSat bill, also explained that the bill is much desired and that passage will aid Nigeria’s emerging development issue.

According to him, the contents of the NigComSat bill have been developed to align with what the laws allow.  “NigComsat should be protected in the best interest of the citizens,” he said.

Eng. Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria and chairman of the occasion, noted that there was a need to guide the Senate, as citizens, to let them know the need for Satellite Company to be able to run businesses on its own with less government bureaucracy.

Ajayi noted that satellite technology is a very desirable technology in Nigeria, noting however, that this was not to say that other terrestrial technologies are not very relevant but they are complementary.

“The major advantage of satellite is its ubiquitousness. In a country like ours, where we have many rural communities, satellite becomes an option. If we must progress, we cannot run away from developing satellite technology and government must support this.” Ajayi

He, however, expressed the view that NigComSat might go the way of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, “because with the Act, it appears we are now putting it in the hands of the law makers.”

However, Bayo Banjo, president, Nigeria Internet Group, affirmed that the bill will transform NigComSat to a fully-owned government company.

“I do not see a reason for this bill because the company is already a limited liability. The bill is not in the interest of Nigeria. It will not serve the purpose of Nigerians.” Banjo noted.

He submitted that rather than having the NigComSat bill passed, it should be jettisoned with the best option to have it privatised.

Ben Nwaroh, partner, Crimson Partners Barristers and Solicitors stood up to say that the proposed bill is contrary to the new national ICT policy approved by the federal executive council.

Ahmed-Rufai sharply shouted him down in a desperate move to starve off further attacks on the bill.

He disclosed that the bill seeks to establish an Act to establish the NigComSat Corporation empowered to engage in, purchase and otherwise acquire or take over the assets, business, company, firm or persons and act in furtherance of all and any business associated and or relating to the satellite industry.

The bill has already been passed by the lower legislative arm, the House of Representatives as at March 2012.

The bill is now set for deliberation at the Senate before it will eventually be sent to the president for assent and the bill becoming an Act.

Ahmed-Rufai, said the Bill, if passed into law, will allow NigComSat Limited to engage in international business partnership for the benefit of the whole country.

He urged stakeholders in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology to support the bill, “as a corporation, the satellite company in about three to four years, would have achieved global satellite coverage.”