The grand launch of the second phase of Digital Switch Over (DSO) powered by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), will come to life in Lagos on April 29, and is expected to move gradually to Kano and Port Harcourt before the end of the year, as part of the strategic drive of the government agency, not only to move broadcasting industry into the digital world but side-by-side the economy of Nigeria.

This is at the backdrop of the management of NBC’s efforts since 2016 that led to initial launch of the first phase in some major cities in Nigeria: starting from Jos, Plateau State capital, along with others.

But to keep abreast with the mandate of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and in line with the earlier mandate of the digi-team set up in 2012, the need for a holistic action became imperative.

Therefore, significantly, the recent moves by the NBC to roll out in phases and gradually to the entire country between now and 2022 tentatively, could be likened to an adage that says, “Starting a project is not the ultimate, but the wisdom and temerity to finish an assignment” is desiring a goal that is being achieved by the current management under the leadership of the erudite scholar and communication expert, acting Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Professor Armstrong Aduku Augustine Idachaba.

In its drive to actualise the global mandate of ITU, domesticated by the efforts of the digi-team in Nigeria towards realising the digital switch on geared towards joining the global front, not only in the area of broadcast communications but by implication other sectors of Nigeria as a country. Aside the restoration of global confidence on the management towards actualising its set goals, the vote of confidence both from the executive and legislative arm of government in Nigeria, due largely to the transparent approach and fiscal discipline restored in the agency of government was an additional emboldening towards driving the digital switch on to a logical conclusion.

This had resulted into the release of a whopping 9.4 billon to offset the financial commitment of NBC to its contractors by government, and the pronouncements of the National Assembly on the self-sustaining strides of the NBC, in spite of the global financial downturn.

The outcome of the new realistic time-table was a well-thought out efforts of the management of NBC, parent ministry, the technical partners, and inter-ministerial committees that swung into action to ensure the seamless connection of the country’s broadcast organisation into the world technological breakthrough.

This positive development did not leave out both the major and other stakeholders in the broadcast industry through awareness, seminars, symposiums, workshops and talk-shops as well as other outlets to keep abreast with the new approach towards realising the digital switch on in Nigeria.

This planned launch was in the pipeline not minding other unforeseen circumstances that had occurred, arising from the global recession both in first and second phases, the global health challenges of COVID-19 in the first, second and its third wave that resulted in the lockdown, and the crisis of #EndSARS under the guise of seeking for good governance by Nigerian youths amid protests.

To nip in the bud several unforeseen circumstances that covered the Nigerian space, concerted decisions was taken by the NBC to contain the multiple crises that arose both from the pandemic and protest with the commercial nerves of Nigeria like Lagos, Port-Harcourt and lately Kano negatively affected.

The administrative decision of the leadership of NBC restored sanity, not only to these states but the entire country as clampdown on broadcast medium and quack professionals whose intentions was to cash in on the global pandemic, through adverts and sales of fake and adulterated drugs, that could be used to treat the new global ailment.

The readiness of these commercial nerve-centres of Nigeria – beginning from Lagos the economic and industrial capital to Kano the commercial hub and Rivers State as one of the leading oil-producing states – to key into the digital switch on is nothing but a growing concern that the new platform will affect positively the Nigerian economy.

This is also on the premise of creating a robust economy through immediate job opportunities not only to the technical and commercial team due for engagements, but as information remained a virile tool for economic advancement since the digital switch on will attract multiple economic development and growth through its new technical know-how.

This is coming on the primacy of stabilising the broadcast stations and outlets that largely depended on the old analogue and obsolete system, that had retarded not only global competition but local performances in all ramifications.

No doubt, Lagos State and by extension the millions of its citizens will take advantage of the launch of Digital Switch Over to improve on both economic, social and infrastructural development that will herald the launch of the second phase of the new broadcast technology on Thursday, April 29.

This euphoria will be closely followed in the same trend in Kano with its chunk of population and Port Harcourt that doubles as the depth of industrial, multinationals and diverse economic interests.

For NBC’s current leadership, it is going to be mission accomplished, particularly coming at a time when Nigeria and other countries of the world desire an unusual outlet like the DSO to improve on the economic, infrastructural and social upliftment as well as gainful employment outlets for its teeming citizens.

•Abubakar Yusuf writes from FCT Abuja.

Update news