The Nigerian Government has re-emphasized its dedication in direction of guaranteeing a protected haven for its residents particularly throughout natural disasters, therefore the necessity for the institution of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), which is able to assure efficient monitoring and provision of related knowledge.
Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA), Dr Halilu Ahmad Shaba, acknowledged this when he performed host to a workforce of scientists from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, China (SHAO) on the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council in 2017 had mandated the Space Agency to intensify efforts in direction of seismic actions throughout the nation by guaranteeing that related knowledge on natural disasters are made accessible to coverage makers for efficient implementation.
“The Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) project is primarily aimed at monitoring Geodynamics phenomena in Nigeria and the sub-Saharan Africa such as earthquake, volcanic eruptions among others” he mentioned
The NASRDA boss, who described the go to as well timed particularly at a time when the nation is in want of correct house associated knowledge for efficient coverage formulation and implementation, acknowledged that the selection of Toro in Bauchi state as the location was due to its stability and strategic location within the international map for finishing up such functions.
Dr Shaba counseled the efforts and contributions of the consultants and reaffirmed the Agency’s assist in all procedural ramifications for the success of the venture which he mentioned, “will go a long way in projecting Nigeria by giving her its rightful position among committee of nations.”
He urged the workforce of consultants to think about capability constructing particularly for indigenous engineers and scientists as an integral a part of the Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), in order to create a long-lasting legacy.
The NASRDA boss additionally charged the members of the MoU implementation committee on the necessity to start work instantly to assure the speedy completion of the venture.
The Acting Director, Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics, CGG Toro, Dr Joseph Dodo, mentioned the thought of building the VLBI is strategic due to its capability to perform earth statement analysis and a correct monitoring of translation and rotation of the African Pole.
He mentioned the venture will probably be contributing to the worldwide community of Space Geodetic Systems for understanding of the worldwide reference body and the earth tectonic.
Dr Dodo, whereas giving a background of the CGG, its actions and attainable areas of collaboration with SHAO acknowledged that the VLBI has the potential of monitoring satellites and different house missions.
The chief of the visiting workforce, Professor Jingling Li, who mentioned the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory is beneath the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, expressed his willingness to work with NASRDA by way of CGG, stating that the supplies for the execution of the venture have been assembled in China ready for cargo to Nigeria throughout the shortest attainable time-frame.
He promised that the venture will probably be executed in good time in order that Nigerians can have entry to actual time knowledge that may assist in efficient planning, monitoring and implementation of people-oriented insurance policies and programmes.
