NIGCOMSAT Ltd. has commenced the VSAT installation project to cover 579 local government areas of Nigeria via satellite coverage, leveraging the Ku-band network asset of NigComSat-1R for the Federal Government’s Project 774 Local Government Areas.
Phase one of the project has been rolled out and is expected to cover 40 local government area council offices across eight states in Nigeria, including Borno, Cross River, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
According to the managing director, Mrs. Nkechi Egerton-Idehen the portable inverter system with a solar panel, intended to provide uninterrupted power supply using green energy solutions, has been delivered. Members of the installation team have already been deployed and kicked off the project installation on March 5, 2024, in Kabba-Bunu, Kogi State.
Egerton-Idehen stated that Kogi, the first state to benefit from the project, covering five local government areas of the state, is aligning with the ministry’s strategic blueprint and is a significant step in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to deliver efficient public service to Nigerians at the local government level.
Additionally, the NIGCOMSAT managing director mentioned that the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has graciously added five more local government areas, increasing the total number from 40 to 45, to cover the phase one of the project in the country.
The first five local government areas to be covered are Kabba/Bunu, Lokoja, Okehi, Bassa and Okene local government areas. The additional five local government areas approved by the minister include Adavi, Ajaokuta, Kogi, Mopamuro and Dekina.
In Kwara, local government areas to be covered are Ilorin West, Offa, Irepodun, Ilorin South and Kaiama.
For Imo, Ikeduru, Oru East, Ihitte/Uboma, Orsu and Oguta.
In Zamfara, NIGCOMSAT Ltd will cover four local government areas, including Anka, Birnin Magaji, Maru and Zumi, while Galaxy Backbone is to cover Bungudu local government area.
A statement by the agency’s head of media relations unit, Stephen Kwande said NIGCOMSAT’s ambition, according to the managing director, is to complete the project in record time and ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of inclusivity at the local government areas across the country.
