The Nigerian government has canvassed for African Space technology Centre to be located on her shores.

The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, made the case when he received the African Union Panel for the Assessment of selected African countries to host the African Space Centres.

Dr. Onu said that Nigeria deserves to host the centre considering its pioneering role in space exploration, its potentials and resources as well as its financial contribution to the African Union.

He further told the panel that Nigeria had invested massively in training of space professionals and would be willing to share its technical know-how with other African countries.

“Nigeria has made giant strides in space development and it was its space satellites that first alerted the United States of America on the hurricane Katrina that assailed the country in 2005’’ he said.

According to Dr. Onu, space technology could address illegal migration across the Mediterranean and reduce poverty and contribute significantly to Africa’s development.

The Minister therefore urged African countries to invest in space technology so as to boost their economy saying that the economic leverage of the United States of America was due to its investment in space technology.

“Our thrust has always been to domesticate our exploration in space science and technology to diversify our economy and boost our economic potentials”, Dr. Onu added.

Dr. Onu assured the panel on the resolve of all the arms of Nigeria’s government to collaborate in achieving the aim of hosting the space agency.

In his speech, the Chairman of the African Panel for the Assessment of hosting of African Space Centre, Professor Chaabouni Mohammed, said  that space technology development represents the true power of any nation, adding that the panel will inspect  and access Nigeria’s space technology facilities on ground to enable it determine the right to host the African Space Center.