ABUJA, July 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria, one of the world's poorest countries, is to launch its own space program in the form of an agency that will develop rocket and satellite technology, Transport Minister Ojo Madueke announced on Wednesday.

He said the government had allocated three billion naira ($26.7 million) for the program and that the agency will receive 2.5 billion naira ($22.4 million) annually in the next three years with the aim of becoming self-financing.

Although Nigeria is the world's sixth largest oil exporter, it has an external debt of $28.5 billion, according to government figures, and is struggling to provide its citizens with roads, education and basic health services.

With a per capita annual income of $300, it is one of the world's 20 poorest countries, according to World Bank figures.