President Bola Tinubu’s administration budgeted over N629 million under the National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) in the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act, for sensitisation against rape and unwanted pregnancy, provision of metal dustbins and sanitation materials, training and empowerment of clergymen, traditional rulers and heads of communities and provision of hand pumps in Oyo and Kaduna states.
The National Space Research Development Agency is a federal government agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with a mandate to establish a “fundamental policy for the development of space science and technology.”
The scope of NASRDA includes the study of basic space science in order to lay the foundation for deriving maximum benefits from the nation’s participation in the space enterprise.
It scope also includes research and rigorous education, engineering development, design and manufacture, particularly in the areas of instrumentation, rocketry and small satellites as well as in satellite data acquisition, processing, analysis and management of related software for Nigeria’s attainment of space capabilities.
The agency is also to provide Remote Sensing to help Nigerians understand and manage our environment and natural resources using space-acquired information to enable Nigerians better understand land, air and water resources and associated problems.
It also has the mandate for Satellite Meteorology to study atmospheric and weather sciences using satellite data to facilitate the effective management of the environment.
However, according to the breakdown and details of the budget allocation from the certified copy obtained from the Budget Office website by SaharaReporters, Tinubu’s government under National Space Research Development Agency budgeted the sum of N80 million for the “Supply of Toyota Hilux Utility Sports for sensitisation against rape and pre-mature/unwanted pregnancy in local area of Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State 4.”
The sum of N80 million was budgeted for the “Provision and supply of large metal dustbins, cleaning and sanitation of selected communities in Oyo State 2.”
For the “training and empowerment of clergy, traditional rulers/heads of communities on conflict and peace resolution in Ibadan, Oyo State 4,” the sum of N170 million was budgeted.
Under the same National Space Research Development Agency, the sum of N299,592,652 was allocated for the “provision of hand pumps in some selected communities in Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in Kaduna State,” and another N30 million for the “provision of hand pumps and boreholes in Kano South, Kano State.”
Also, N50 million was budgeted under National Space Research Development Agency for the “supply of motorcycles to Mbakpor Community”.
Other budgetary allocations which are outside the mandates of NASRDA but were budgeted under the agency are N20 million for the “provision of selected primary health and maternity centres across Kaduna South Senatorial District, Kaduna State”, N100 million for the “construction/renovation of blocks of classrooms in various schools in Egba, Ogun State,” and N200 million for the “construction and rehabilitation of asphalt roads in Ibadan, Oyo State.”(SaharaReporters)
