Nigeria's Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Nnaji, announced that his country plans to send its first astronaut into space.
“Manned spaceflight is not just an aspiration of our country, but an important goal of Nigeria’s space program and policy approved by the government in 2001. Resuming and implementing all frozen national programs is an important part of the Hope Agenda being implemented by President Bola Tinubu,” Vanguard quoted the minister as saying. This is consistent with the long-term aspirations of our people.”
He added: “A Nigerian astronaut will be sent into orbit in accordance with the memorandum of understanding concluded in Abuja, within the framework of which the Nigerian Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology will cooperate with the American company Space Exploration and Research Agency.”
The minister noted that Nigeria is celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of its space program this year, and that the first Nigerian astronaut's journey into space is supposed to take place either before next December or in 2025.