If the minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu was hoping to please firebrand Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani by saying that Nigeria was on course to send a man to space by 2040, he totally failed, as the tough-talking senator described the lofty project as nothing but a waste of scarce resources.
Senator San wrote on Twitter; ‘Sending Nigerians 2 space in 2030 is just going to be a waste of our scarce resources; there are better things to do in the field of science.’
Right now, the able Senator seems to be right on point, especially as our first satellite sent to outer space, NIGCOMSAT 1 is lost forever (RIP NICOMSAT1) after $251 million was blown launching it.
The present government should keep the lessons of NIGCOMSAT 1 in mind (even though the loss didn’t happen in their watch) because no Nigerian family would react kindly if its member is lost in space like NIGCOMSAT1.
Having said that, Ogbonnaya Onu has given Nigeria its Kennedy moment with that inspiring dream. When Kennedy said Americans would send a man to the moon in 10 years, it was difficult to believe, but it eventually happened within the specified time.
It will be a great morale boosting achievement when we send a Nigerian into outer space. If we work diligently towards it, crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s, we will get there. #YesWeCan! #LetsDoItRight!
Senator Shehu Sani is on point!
There are better things to do with taxpayers’ money than sending people to space.