Nigerian Satellite Communication Limited has urged the government to ensure the effective implementation of policies aimed at advancing technology.

The technical adviser to the managing director of NIGCOMSAT, Tope Yusuf, spoke in an interview on Tuesday in Abuja on the sidelines of a media training for reporters and editors organised by NIGCOMSAT in Abuja.

According to him, it is equally important to ensure that these policies are not only well-designed but also effectively implemented.

“Nobody is going to wait for Nigeria. Nobody is going to wait for anyone. We also need to follow the technology. In order to do it, we need to have the right policy in place and also collaborate with relevant stakeholders. If we collaborate, I believe that we cannot get it wrong.

“Governments need to ensure that their policies are being ensured and they are being implemented so that we can allow our indigenous players, our indigenous citizens to have the right methods to ensure that they perform well and perform optimally,” Mr Yusuf said.

He said the local content provides an opportunity for local groups and manufacturers to participate in the country’s technological development.

Mr Yusuf said government agencies still patronised foreign satellites when Nigeria had its own.

According to him, technology is evolving rapidly, and Nigeria needs to keep pace with it by having the right policies in place and collaborating with stakeholders.

“Local content policy gives room to local development. It means that our local manufacturers, our local public, and our local researchers have been given the right of first refusal,’’ he said.

Mr Yusuf urged the government to prioritise the implementation of policies that would enable indigenous players to perform optimally and contribute to the country’s technological advancement.

“Nobody is going to wait for Nigeria,” he said, emphasising the need for the country to take proactive steps to drive its technological development.

According to Mr Yusuf, collaboration and effective policy implementation are key to Nigeria’s success in the technological space.

He called on the government to ensure that policies were not just enacted but also implemented effectively to achieve the desired outcomes.

Mr Yusuf said Nigeria’s communication satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1R, had been a vital tool in the country’s development, providing various services such as broadcast, broadband, navigation, and more.

“With 28 transponders, the satellite was launched on December 19, 2011, and has a lifespan of 15 years. The satellite’s applications are diverse, ranging from education to healthcare to economic growth.

“For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, NIGCOMSAT-1R enabled online learning, allowing students to access educational services remotely. In the healthcare sector, the satellite facilitates telemedicine, enabling doctors to provide medical services to patients in remote areas,’’ he said.

Mr Yusuf said NIGCOMSAT-1R had enabled financial services, such as point-of-sale transactions, to be provided in rural areas, promoting economic viability and job creation.

He also stated that the satellite had facilitated the provision of government services, such as NIN registration and passport applications, in rural areas.

“By leveraging satellite technology, Nigeria can continue to drive development and improve the lives of its citizens.

“The country’s communication satellite has been a vital tool in facilitating development, and its applications will only continue to grow in the future. Government should ensure that the right policy is put in place. Because policy is a driver,” Mr Yusuf said.

(NAN)