Nigeria’s House of Representatives has urged the federal government to fully utilize the country’s allocated orbital slots before the December 6, 2024, deadline to avoid a $400 million loss.
The motion, titled “Need to Safeguard Nigeria’s Orbital Slots to Prevent Potential Financial Loss of $400 Million to Nigeria,” was moved by Honourable Muktar Tolani Shagaya, representing the Ilorin West/Asa Constituency, on Tuesday.
The motion noted that Nigeria has been granted three orbital slots by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which are essential for satellite placement in geostationary orbit.
What Transpired at Plenary
During plenary, virtually monitored by Nairametrics, Shagaya stated that the three slots are vital for telecommunications, broadcasting, weather monitoring, and national defense purposes.
He noted that currently, only one of these slots is utilized through NigComSat-1, leaving the other two vulnerable to reassignment if they remain unused by the…