Nigeria's satellite launch gets mixed reaction

Government officials, as well as many in the scientific and technical community, are hailing the launch of a satellite, known as Nigersat 1, not only for its potential practical contributions to the country’s development objectives, but also as a symbol of its progress in science and technology. However others have criticised the government for investing between US$15 million and US$20 million in a 'grandiose project', which, they claim, will do little to address poverty.