The Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd on Monday said the speedy implementation of the Executive Order 5 by Federal Government would boost the organisation’s revenue generation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari in February signed the Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.
The Executive Order is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation toward achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.
George Moghalu, the Chairman of NIGCOMSAT Board, said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen after the organisation’s board meeting.
He said implementation of the 005 would encourage local participation of NIGCOMSAT satellite, adding: “and we need to have local patronage where we can have enough money to run the organisation”.
Moghalu said: “If we can have a government policy that encourages or facilitates the implementation of this executive order as it affects NIGOMSAT in terms of patronage, we can generate enough to pay for whatever commitment we have.
“Be it Satellite 2 or 3 or be it funds required to run the place, this is a reality and I am confident also that government wants this place to succeed.
“Because of that, anything government can do to make sure this company runs to optimum level should be done.
“One of the things we want government to do is to put effective local patronage on Executive Order 005 and 003 as they affect the organisation.”
Moghalu said the process by Federal Government to purchase two additional satellites for NIGCOMSAT for about 500 million dollars was on course, adding that the organisation was partnering with other satellite companies to provide backup services.
He said it was not in the interest of the organisation to run a satellite company relying only on one satellite.
He said: “We are creating some partnership with other satellite companies that stand as backup and we are also backing up some people; this is not a business you do alone.
“We are fully ready and we have the backup of other satellite companies to provide us with backup before the launch of Satellite 2 and 3.”
The chairman said NIGCOMSAT was doing all it could to ensure broadband penetration got to every part of the country to meet the 2018 National Broadband Policy deadline.
Moghalu said: “We have the capacity, we have the personnel to play our part to ensure that every government policy affects both internet and satellite services of NIGCOMSAT and we will do its best.”