NASRDA MAKES HISTORY WITH NIGERIA’S FIRST HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT, CHAMPIONS TOURISM AND SPACE-TECH INNOVATION
History was made in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory as the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), in collaboration with private sector partners, successfully unveiled and test-flew Nigeria’s first hot air balloon, marking a new chapter in the country’s aviation, tourism, science and technology development.
A statement by Director, Media and Corporate Communications of NASRDA, Dr Felix Ale says the historic flight, held as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary, demonstrated NASRDA’s capacity and determination to explore innovative technologies in creating new economic opportunities through the application of science and technology.
Speaking at the event, the Director General and Chief Executive of NASRDA, Prof. Matthew Adepoju, commended the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering support for the development and advancement of Nigeria’s space programme.
Prof. Adepoju also appreciated the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Kingsley Udeh, SAN, for his continued support and shared vision for the Agency, as well as the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, for his contribution to the successful actualisation of the project.
According to the NASRDA Director General, the hot air balloon project is designed to expand the scope of tourism in Nigeria while opening new economic opportunities through the low-altitude aviation economy and contributing to the expansion of government revenue.
He explained that the initiative is driven by the private sector, with the involvement of SkyTrek Balloon, established by Homoeconomicus and GeoApps Plus Limited, to promote sustainability, commercial viability and long term growth of the project.
The NASRDA boss noted that the initiative represents another practical demonstration of the Agency’s commitment to translating scientific and technological innovations into platforms capable of contributing directly to national development.
During the test flight conducted to validate the balloon’s operational capability, Prof. Adepoju reiterated that the Federal Government’s plan to develop four new satellites for Nigeria is at an advanced stage, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening its space capabilities.
He further described the successful test flight as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s innovation journey and wished Nigerians a happy Independence Day celebration, urging citizens to remain proud of the nation’s growing achievements in science, technology and innovation.
