The management of NigComSat Ltd. has said it has no plans to launch any satellite in 2023 as speculated by sections of the media.
A statement issued by the company’s general manager, corporate affairs and special projects, Mr. Adamu Idris read: “Our attention has been drawn to a report from a section of the media purported to have emanated from the welcome address of the managing director/chief executive officer of NigComSat Ltd., Dr. Abimbola Alale at the recent one-day stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Lagos that NigComSat is launching a satellite in 2023. This is not true.
“The report, which claims that the NigComSat-2 Satellite would be launched into orbit by the first quarter of 2023 to enhance coverage, is a misrepresentation of the MD’s speech as nothing of such was said at the event,” he said.
According to the general manager, the managing director’s “concise and unambiguous” speech merely reminded industry players that they are bound by common goals and interests and should, therefore, view the stakeholders’ meeting as critical to the growth of the industry.
For the avoidance of doubt, these were the exact words of the MD that were distorted. “In the course of our discussion, we will delve into 5G technology and satellite communication. We will also discuss satellite as a panacea for Nigeria’s security challenges.”
She further reiterated that the deliberation would stimulate ideas that will metamorphose into a strategic framework for a more robust industry.
The MD’s speech which was widely circulated to the reporters present, at no time mentioned the launch of the satellite and neither did it give a particular time frame.
NigComSat Ltd. urged media organizations, especially those that published the misleading story to, “as a mark of good journalism, take it down”.
