When you think about space exploration programs, the names that come to mind are Cape Canaveral and the International Space Station. You’d never guess Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria does have a space program and handling the gig practically on his own is S. O. Mohammed, director general of the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) who is determined to produce major scientific advancements on a limited budget. In a country where 70 percent of its populace lives below the poverty line, critics are wondering how one man can spend millions of dollars designing a satellite in space and trying to put a man on the moon.
Nigeria is a democratic secular republic in West Africa, comprised of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja is located. With approximately 184 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. It is the world's 20th largest economy and is worth more than $500 billion and $1 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and purchasing power parity respectively.
Nigeria is also the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter with the 10th largest proven reserves. Since joining OPEC in 1971, oil has played a large role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 40% of GDP and 80% of government earnings. Its main petroleum producing region is the Niger Delta and it is from here that recent problems have emanated.
Avenger Attacks
Violent attacks on the oil pipelines in the Niger Delta area began last February after President Muhammadu Buhari cancelled contracts that placed militant commanders at the oil facilities to protect the fields, while at the same time slashing monthly stipends paid out to the “guards” that had been approved by the previous government in order to end the last uprising in 2009.
The attackers call themselves the “Avengers” and little is known about them besides their being a group of young activists with a range of ethnic backgrounds. The Avengers insist on greater control over the oil revenue flowing from the delta and regional autonomy that will end to the domination of the Ijaw people and other ethnic minorities by bigger groups that control the national government. The group is also demanding the release of some political prisoners and an end to environmental destruction and squalor caused by years of oil spills.
The recent attacks have slashed crude output to the lowest level in 27 years and have closed down all but four of the country’s 23 gas-powered generators, leaving much of the West African nation without electricity.
More importantly, the economic effects of the violence against the oil fields are being felt beyond the borders of Nigeria and have become an international factor in the increased price of global oil. President Buhari and the Nigerian government have finally decided that the military presence in the region, which had been increased in the last few weeks, must be scaled down.
Serious Dialogue Needed
Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has announced that he will begin the process of a very intensive dialogue with the Avengers and will “probably suspend the operations of the military in the region for a week or two for individuals in the creeks to converge for the dialogue."
Kachikwu also said Nigeria's oil output was between 1.5 million and 1.6 million barrels a day, down from 2.2 million barrels at the start of the year.
While Nigeria’s oil wells have slowed production, millions of dollars are being pumped into the country’s space program. Why? Director General Mohammed points to the country's three existing satellites as evidence of what can be gained from a national space program. They have already helped document regional climate change patterns, update the country's outdated maps and have successfully tracked the movement of terrorist groups within the country.
The next priority on Mohammed's list is launching a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite capable of penetrating cloud coverage with images that could help monitor activity in the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy has increased of late.
The final goal of Nigeria’s space program is, after all is said and done, to put the country on the map as a regional space innovation hub and establish it as far more than just an oil-producing nation. It is worth keeping an eye on this African country.