The Association of Christian Theologians (ACT) at the weekend warned against an alleged plan by the Federal Government to borrow over 1 billion pounds from Britain, to join the space race.
According to the association, such a venture at a time like this is no more than a wasteful project. In a press statement at the weekend, the ACT president, Prof. Kunle Macaulay, quoting a British newspaper commentator, stated, "A reliable source revealed that Nigeria wants to take a loan of over 1 billion pounds from Britain to join the space race.
"This source confirmed that Nigerian astronauts are being trained to join Russian, Chinese or American mission within the next two years."
Macaulay said this attempt could only be a joke in view of the fact that "Nigeria though is considered an oil-rich country, over 70 percent of the people lives in abject poverty.
"The space programme is unnecessary at a time like this when the nation is facing political and religious instability. There is no work for graduates from our universities and corruption is at its peak. There are many domestically induced problems that are yet to be solved.
Why then go for a debt?" The body asked rhetorically. Further to his lamentation, the ACT boss stated, "A British newspaper commentator referring to Nigeria, said,
"The country's political class is among the most corrupt on earth-starving its citizens while growing rich by siphoning off its vast oil revenues.
"Nigerian space programmes started in 2013 but its first satellite lost power and disappeared from the orbit. "It has three in space: Nigeria-Comsat- IR, Nigeria Sta-2 and Nigeria-SatX, the first to be constructed by Nigerian engineers.
"To me, as at now, it is a very wasteful project. Nigeria needs to face the reality of its situation in that, its people are hungry and the standards of education and health are below expectation, among others," he counselled.
Besides, he urged that the safety of lives and property in the country should be of priority, just as he lampooned what he described as the outrageous salaries and other benefits of Nigeria's lawmakers.
"Politicians should listen to the voice of the people, and patriotic Nigerians must know who represents their interest in the government and who should be voted for at the next election," he counselled.
On a recent disagreement over the girl-child marriage, Prof. Macaulay said, "If one religion or tradition allows it as advocated by Senator Yerima..., Christianity does not."
National Mirror