Nigeria’s state-owned satellite operator, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), says it is focused on expanding the country’s satellite capacity despite reports alleging it owes $11.4 million to its Chinese technical partner.
According to recent media reports, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) threatened to stop providing operational assistance for Nigeria’s communications satellite and gave the Nigerian government a 30-day ultimatum on the purported debt.
NigComSat has quickly dismissed the claims, describing them as misleading and lacking factual basis.
The agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Stephen Kwande, said the organisation immediately contacted its Chinese partner after the reports surfaced, adding that CGWIC distanced itself from the claim.
“It is unclear where this misleading information is coming from,” Kwande said, noting that executives and representatives of the Chinese firm in Nigeria confirmed they were not responsible for the circulating reports.
“We don’t owe that kind of money. We are business partners; they render services and they get paid,” he said, reaffirming the cordial relationship between the two entities.
His refutal corroborates with another official who spoke to journalists about the agency’s plan to expand its satellite.
The official disclosed that plans are underway for the launch of two additional satellites following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I am not aware of who is pushing this information because the whole pipeline now is to launch two new satellites, which the President has already approved,” the official said.
NigComSat maintained that its partnership with its Chinese partner continues to support Nigeria’s satellite communication infrastructure, assuring stakeholders that its satellite services are fully operational and unaffected despite the issue.
