NigComSat-1 was a Nigerian communication satellite. The initial contract to build the satellite was signed in 2004. It became the first African geosynchronous communication satellite, when it was launched at 16:01 GMT on 13 May 2007, aboard a Chinese Long March 3B carrier rocket, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. The spacecraft was operated by NigComSat Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd. On November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed in orbit after running out of power due to an anomaly in its solar array.

The satellite, which is the third Nigerian satellite to be placed into orbit, was launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit and subsequently it was successfully inserted into a geosynchronous orbit, positioned at 42.5^oE. It had a launch mass of 5,150 kg, and had an expected service life of 15 years.

It was based on the Chinese DFH-4 satellite bus, and carries a variety of transponders:

It design was to provide coverage to many parts of Africa, and the Ka-band transponders would also cover Italy.