The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)

  • ‘Nigeria leads Africa in space programme’

    NIGERIA has become a leader in the space race in Africa and a global player in space science and technology, a former Director-General (DG) of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Prof Seidu Mohammed, has said.

    Mohammed spoke on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, while handing over to the agency’s acting DG, Mr Jonathan Angulu.

    Mohammed had completed two terms and retired, in line with the agency’s law.

    He noted that the successes achieved during his watch were due to the unflinching commitment of the workers.

    A statement by NASRDA’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, said Prof Mohammed expressed gratitude to God for successfully completing the two terms with many achievements recorded within the period.

    The former DG expressed appreciation for the selfless contributions the management and workers of the agency gave him.

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    He urged them not to rest on their oars in the pursuit of self-development and capacity building to sustain the height NASDRA attained during his tenure.

    Angulu called for a cohesive front to further strengthen the development and historic achievements of the agency, said to be the number one premier space agency in Africa.

    Thanking God for his appointment, the agency chief described it as divine and reward for hard work.

    He urged the NASRDA management and workers to always put in their best for the successful implementation of the space road map for the overall benefits of the citizenry.

    The acting DG also thanked his colleagues for the support accorded his predecessor.

    He hoped that same will be accorded him to deploy an all-inclusive style of leadership where everyone’s decision would be relevant and every positive voice heard, irrespective of their positions.

    The new NASRDA chief expressed his readiness to further propel the development of the Nigerian space programme.

    He said top most on his list will be the workers’ welfare to motivate them and a clarion call for all to work hard to enable the agency to attain greater heights.

  • Abuja tremor: FG predicts further quakes

    The Presidential Committee set up on the recent earth tremor that occurred in Abuja have predicted the possibility of more tremors in the country soon.

    The committee submitted that based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.

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    Chairman of the committee and Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Prof. Seidu Mohammed said that currently about 110,000 boreholes have been sunk in Abuja with 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily.

    Speaking at the submission of the committees report to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, Mohammed added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures of Abuja.

    He also said that the imbalance is further caused by about 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily from Abuja boreholes.

    His words, “The latest occurred in September 7th of 2018 in Abuja with Mpape as epicenter. These earthquakes may have been of low-magnitudes, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation.

    “The report of the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations carried out in 1978 by Julius Berger for Abuja identified Mpape as a Shear zone that is weak with several fractures and fault system. Water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures. Currently, there are 110,000 boreholes within Abuja metropolis with about 330, 000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily. This is not sustainable.

    “In the light of the above, the spots and locations identified and considered as earthquake prone areas in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general, need to be further studied and continuously monitored. There is also the need to carry out detailed vulnerability studies of the identified seismic hot spots in Nigeria.

    “Based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, we confirmed that the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.

    “There is the need to regulate the exploitation of ground water resources of Abuja via indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because this has been the primary reason for the stress build up leading to the Abuja tremors of 5th-7th September, 2018.

    “Government should release fund for the training of Geophysicist, Geologists, Engineers, Technologists and researchers to participate in earth science research, in order to improve our understanding of Nigerian and West African geophysics and tectonics dynamism. We emphasize that this research has crucial societal ‘value as it is evident in earthquake hazard readiness and mitigation.”

    Dr. Onu in his remark said that the committee will continue its research after the submission and asked the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to develop seismic building code that can resist tremors in future.

  • NASRDA, OAU set to honour atmospheric researcher

    NASRDA, OAU set to honour atmospheric researcher

    All roads lead to Ile-Ife, the Cradle of Yoruba, on Thursday 27 July 2017 to celebrate a great Icon, Professor Ekundayo Elisha Balogun of the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Obafemi Awolowo, University OAU an erudite scholar who will clock 80.

    The organisers are the Centre for atmospheric research (CAR), National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA) Anyigba, Africa Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education – English (ARCSSTEE) NASRDA, OAU Ile–Ife, Cooperative Information Network (COPINE), NASRDA,  Ile–Ife, Department of Physics and Engineering Physics,  OAU, Ile-Ife.

    A national symposium with the theme: ‘Atmospheric Research in Nigeria: The journey so far’. The event is organised to commemorate his 80th birthday and to highlight the contributions of this great icon to the development of atmospheric research in Nigeria and global community at large.

    Parts of his achievements include serving as the pioneer Executive Director of the United Nations Affiliated African Regional Centre for Space Science Technology Education for English Speaking countries UN-ARCSSTE-E located within the Campus of OAU, chairman of the national committee of top space scientists that drafted the first ever Nigerian space policy during the military era in 1993.

    The release also stated that the symposium will feature presentations on the life and contributions of Professor E. E. Balogun to the development of Space Science in developing nations and atmospheric research in particular.

    While a special lectures shall be delivered by eminent atmospheric scientists and contributed papers by over several participants.

  • Ramadan ends on Saturday says NASDRA

    Ramadan ends on Saturday says NASDRA

    The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)  has said that the appearance of the first astronomical lunar crescent for the month of June 2017 which signifies the end of Ramadan fast will be recorded in Nigeria on 25th June, 2017 between the hours of 6.29pm and 8.40pm.

    In a Press Statement issued Monday in Abuja by Head, Media and Corporate Communications of the Agency, Dr Felix Ale said, the first appearance of the moon can only be sighted with the eyes given a very cloudless sky without any atmospheric disturbance, while the first lunar crescent can be best sighted with the aid of charged couple device imaging, astronomical telescope or any optical astronomy instrument.

    He explained that the proper sighting of the crescent with the eyes will bring to an end the on-going Ramadan fast as would be officially announced by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto to all Muslim faithfuls in line with Islamic tradition.

    The Space Agency explained that the first astronomical Lunar crescent on the 25th June 2017 between 6:29 pm and 8:40 pm will have Port Harcourt, Adamawa, Maiduguri, Taraba, and Damaturu as first to witness the appearance of the first young Lunar Crescent at about 6:29 pm concurrently to 7:20 pm; while the Lunar Crescent will be sighted lastly in Sokoto state between 7:49 pm – 8:40 pm.

    All other states of the federation will experience the Lunar Crescent between the estimated time of 6:29 pm and 8:40 pm on 25th June 2017.

    The results released by the Agency indicates precise dates, appearance time of the first crescent, sunset as well as moon set time for all the states capital of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.