NIGCOMSAT: Nigerian satellite battery dead, not lost in space

 

ABUJA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s government said on Wednesday that its $340 million communications satellite was not lost in space, as reported by the local media, but that it was simply suffering from a flat battery.

The Nigerian Communication Satellite, or NIGCOMSAT-1, blasted off from a launch pad in China in May 2007 to great fanfare, with Nigeria hoping it would offer advanced telecoms, broadcasting and broadband multimedia services for 15 years.

Minister of state for Science and Technology Alhassan Zaku said engineers at ground stations in Abuja and China had noticed the satellite’s solar-powered battery was not recharging and feared it could smash into other satellites if left unrepaired.

“After looking at the options we decided that the best thing to do was to park it, like you park a car,” Zaku said.

“If it wasn’t parked and it lost all its power there would be no energy to even move it ... and it would be like a loose cannon and would keep rolling about and hit other satellites in the orbit,” he told reporters.

Nigerian newspapers had reported NIGCOMSAT-1 was missing from orbit.

The satellite was supposed to make Africa’s most populous nation a technological hub, saving broadband users and phone users hundreds of millions of dollars a year and enabling Internet access to remote rural villages.

Critics say the project, estimated to have cost the government 40 billion naira ($340 million), has done little to improve communications, with Internet connections notoriously unreliable and among the most expensive in the region.

Zaku said the satellite was insured and that it would be replaced if it could not be repaired. He said customers had been assured that television, radio and Internet services affected by the problem would be re-routed.

Nigerian Internet users have already been battling with service problems after damage to the South Atlantic Terminal III (SAT-3) underwater cable, the main gateway to the country for international calls and Internet connections.

Nigeria's formerly state-owned telecoms firm Nitel said last month it had invited foreign firms to help it fix the cable. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: africa.reuters.com/ ) (Writing by Nick Tattersall)

BIAFRA NEWS: Gunmen kidnap Abia Varsity students, other travellers in Imo

 

Gunmen suspected to be hoodlums have kidnapped an unspecified number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), and other travellers along Okigwe, Imo State.

 gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday evening when the students ran into a yet to be identified gang of hoodlums operating along the Okigwe-Uturu Road.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the victims were inside a van when they ran into the gunmen who whisked them to a forest.

While urging the university community to remain calm, the Commissioner noted that the state government is working with its Imo counterpart and relevant security agencies to ensure their release.

He said two of the students were able to escape from their abductors while others are still in captivity.

“We are working with the government of Imo State and relevant security agencies in both states to ensure the rescue of the abducted students and others.

“Members of the public and ABSU community are advised to remain calm as we will spare no resource in ensuring the safety of the victims.

“No criminal operating within our environment will be allowed to escape justice as we take the job of protecting lives and property of Abians and visitors to the State very seriously”, the Commissioner added.

NEWS: Imo residents keep vigil as armed robbers take over streets

Residents living on Douglas road, Ama-JK, Ikenegbu, Royce, Njamanze, Orji, Amakohia, Akwakuma and MCC road in Owerri, the Imo State capital, are now keeping vigil against unknown gunmen whose activities had wreaked havoc in the state.

 correspondent who interacted with some of the residents reports that the crisis-prone areas seemed to have experienced relative peace as residents now thread with caution.

A provisions seller who lives in Amakohia said, “you can see that people are now closing their shops early for fear of the unknown gunmen. Because no one knows when they will strike.

“I used to close my shop by 11pm but not anymore. This time around, I close by 8pm. I have to save my life.”

The woman who refused her name in print recalled the series of armed robbery and kidnapping incidents that had taken place in the past couple of weeks.

She said, “my neighbour was recently kidnapped. She was released just last week after the family paid a huge sum for ransom.

“There is virtually no day that passes without any case of robbery or kidnapping in Owerri. We are really scared of the situation.

“The government, on its own, is not doing well in arresting the situation. They should know that peoples lives are involved and beef up the security architecture.”

A survey along the Orji, MCC and Douglas areas of the state capital revealed that traders occupying the busy roads have taken the same step of closing up their wares on time because, according to them, the bandits often strike at night.

 

NEWS: Nigeria’s satellite cannot effectively monitor bandits – Space Agency DG, Shaba

 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says Nigeria’s satellite cannot effectively monitor bandits and other criminals.

The Director-General, Halilu Shaba spoke to reporters after a meeting with staff of the agency in Abuja.

Shaba said bandits have become sophisticated, adding that they no longer use Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) phones, but walkie-talkie.

The official disclosed the satellite is not static where the insurgency is taking place. He noted that one satellite is insufficient.

“We have a High-Resolution imaging satellite and Medium Resolution imaging satellite.

“The activities of the bandits could be when the satellite was away from Nigerian borders, so that is why we are advocating for more satellites for Nigeria,” he said.

Shaba advocated stronger collaboration between the agency and security agencies on information sharing to forestall attacks.

NEWS: Fani-Kayode commends Buhari, El-Rufai over release of 27 Afaka students

 

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has commended the Federal Government and the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State over the rescue of the 27 abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka.

The students abducted few weeks ago were released on Wednesday.

According to a source, the students’ freedom was facilitated by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi-led committee, in collaboration with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Reacting, Fani-Kayode also commended the Nigerian Army for the rescue of the students.

He, however, vowed to attack and rebuke the government when necessary.

In a series of tweets, the former minister wrote: “I commend the Kaduna State Government, the Federal Government and the @HQNigerianArmy for the rescue of 13 kidnapped persons from evil and barbaric terrorists in Gwagwada, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state earlier today after a fierce gun battle.

“Way to go! More of this! I am proud of being a Nigerian again.

“We must give credit, commend and applaud where and when it is due and we must attack, condemn and criticise where and when it is necessary.

“I pray that they continue in this way. If they do we shall commend and applaud them. If they do not we shall attack, condemn and criticise them.”

NEWS: Pastor Adeboye’s son, Leke reacts to brother’s death

 

Leke Adeboye, the last son and Senior Personal Assistant of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has reacted to the death of his brother, Dare Adeboye.

 had reported that Pastor Dare died in his sleep on Wednesday night at his home in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

He was a Youth Provincial Pastor and was described as a miracle child by his father.

The deceased who was said to have ministered the previous day and never complained of any ailment was 42-years old and married with two kids.

Reacting on Facebook, Leke Adeboye posted a scripture which speaks about the death of the ‘righteous.

He posted Isaiah 57:11 that reads, ” “The righteous man perishes(at the hand of evil), and no one takes it to heart, Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands. That the righteous person is taken away(to be spared) from evil and disaster.”

NEWS: Again, gunmen raze police station, kill two officers in Anambra

 

The Police Command in Anambra State have confirmed the killing of two of its personnel by unknown gunmen who attacked and razed the Divisional Police Station in Obosi, Idemili North of the state.

NAN reports that DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, who confirmed the attack to newsmen said the attackers had after burning down the station, moved to the quarters where they killed the two personnel in the early hours of Thursday.

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Chris Owolabi had dispatched a tactical team for on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

“The tactical team led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police was directed to have an on-the-spot assessment of the place.

“The team was equally told to possibly identify and apprehend the hoodlums that perpetrated the attack,” he said.

Ikenga further revealed that the bodies of the two policemen had been deposited at a nearby morgue, adding that investigation into the matter had began.