The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) affirmed that Nigeria could generate $20 million from the launch of one satellite if it develops its Assembly, Integration and Testing Laboratory (AITL).

According to Dr Halilu Shaba, Director General of  NASRDA, he said during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja that the agency was confident that the 25-year Space Policy Roadmap could be achieved.

Part of the content of the roadmap which included launching satellites into the orbit from Nigerian soil, Shaba said was crucial to the development of Space Science and Technology.

However, stressed that achieving such facility was a humongous project that required huge resources which their annual budgetary allocation could barely handle.

He explained that they were engaging in advocacies to investors and other countries to see how partnerships could float the project because the government might not have the sole capacity.

“We are thinking out of the box because it can bring money and we are letting people know that this can bring money.

“The government can partner with the public on that because for you to launch any satellite, the initial deposit you give for the launch of the satellite minus the kilometres you cover is $20million to launch one satellite.

“We are also at the equator and getting windows for launch are higher and then the distance to the orbit is shorter.

“If we can be a launching destination, it means that if we are launching 20 satellites from Nigeria every year, that gives you about $400million.

“Let’s start and then identify the other issues, and Nigeria will be launching destination for other African countries and the world,”Shaba added.

The NASRDA boss further said the agency was talking to other countries due to their interests.