China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) has issued a 30-day ultimatum to Nigeria’s state satellite operator, warning it will deactivate the country’s only communications satellite unless an outstanding debt of US$11,442,335.89 is settled in full or a legally binding payment guarantee is provided.
The ultimatum, dated March 9, 2026, warns that failure to settle the debt or provide an acceptable financial guarantee within the stipulated period could result in the suspension of services on active transponders of the NigComSat-1R satellite. The letter was addressed to the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and copied directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a move analysts say signals that CGWIC has exhausted patience with the agency’s management and is escalating to the highest level of government.
The debt covers seven years of unpaid Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) services provided from CGWIC’s ground control facility in Kashi, China. CGWIC assumed management of NigComSat-1R’s operations in 2019, after rescuing the satellite from potential orbital collapse, and has since received no payments from the Nigerian operator. Previous negotiations in 2023 and early 2025, which included proposals for partial debt forgiveness, were not concluded successfully.
A shutdown would sever satellite-dependent services across Nigeria. A disruption to NigComSat-1R services could affect sectors that rely on satellite connectivity, including broadcasting, rural broadband access, emergency communications, and government services. Military and security agencies also rely on the satellite for operational communications in areas where ground-based networks are limited.
NigComSat-1R was launched in 2011 with a designed lifespan of 15 years. The federal government has announced an operational extension to 2028, but that extension depends entirely on the satellite’s continued operation, which in turn depends on CGWIC continuing to provide TT&C services. The government has also approved the procurement of two replacement satellites, NigComSat-2A and 2B, estimated at approximately US$500 million, though the 2026 budget allocation for the project has already been reduced by 30 percent compared to the previous year.
Stephen Kwande, Head of Corporate Communications at NigComSat, confirmed receipt of the ultimatum, stating the agency is reviewing the situation and will issue an official statement in due course.
The 30-day deadline runs from March 9, 2026, giving Nigeria until early April to respond.
