Science minister says he is confident Nigeria will have an astronaut in space by 2030

SCIENCE and technology minister Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed confidence that Nigeria will land an astronaut in space on or before 2030 as the country's ongoing space programme gathers pace.

 

Dr Onu made the assertion when the management team of the Defence Space Agency, led by its director-general, Air Vice Marshal Victor Udoh, visited him. He assured the agency that the federal government was putting all the structures on ground to ensure that Nigerian astronauts landed in space on or before 2030.

 

“The space programme is very important for a country like Nigeria. The ministry will work very hard in the years ahead to strengthen all the structures of the agencies that will help us to ensure that the nation plays a role in the space,” Dr Onu said.

 

Furthermore, he added that the ministry would intensify efforts to ensure that all the arrangements needed were provided. According to him, space is a major asset which nations like Nigeria must also be involved in for the purposes of protecting national interest.

 

Dr Onu assured the team that the ministry would support and work with the agency in the best interest of the nation and would fast-track its accomplishments. Earlier, Marshal Udoh said the agency would like to collaborate with the ministry in order to be more efficient and effective.