By YUSUF ABUBAKAR

The Acting Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Armstrong Idachaba, has lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the actualisation of Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Nigeria.

He gave the commendation during the launch of the second phase of the DSO on Thursday in Lagos, noting that transition from analogue to digital platform should give credence to this administration.

“To arrive to this point I must acknowledge the constant policy direction and support of this administration, especially that the transition from analogue to Digital broadcasting only commenced earnestly in 2016, with the advent of this administration, before then it was so much steam without motion.

“I therefore thank the President for his unwavering commitment to bring information and access to information to the mass of Nigerians,” Idachaba said.

He also said that the relentless efforts of the supervising Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the event realistic.

“I want to most sincerely thank the Honorable Minister for his drive and energy to deliver this proposition for the good of Nigerians.

“I recall that it took his intervention and dogged commitment to drive the process before we attained the pilot roll out in Jos. Today, he has again proven that commitment and capacity for leadership with the switch on of the DTT signal in Lagos today.

“It must be stated that the Digitization of broadcasting brings a whole gamut of opportunities for Nigerians. It is perhaps without doubt the fastest and safest way to leap frog those at the lower rung up the digital divide,” Idachaba said.

The NBC Ag Director General described Lagos as the stable of digital advancement in view of its critical roles in the economic and technological development of Nigeria, hence the resolve of NBC to launch Lagos separately at the second phase after the pilot schemes in five states.

According to him, “With this roll out in Lagos, a projected five million Lagosians are instantly going to access digital television services not only for broadcasting but with converged opportunities to telecom and other ancillary services. Jobs will be created for creatives and engineers and technicians, small-scale business activities are going to be stimulated around the proposition, sale of boxes, installations, content production and the like.

“I thank our various stakeholders especially the Lagos based broadcasters who have given robust support towards creating DSO awareness. I have undertaken several media campaign rounds where I have been warmly received. For me the greatest win of this Lagos launch is that broadcasters are owning the process. They are excited and see the success of the Digital switchover as theirs.

“The Digital switch on we are activating here in Lagos today means that from today with just a set top box Lagosians can now enjoy over 30 digital television services, subscription free. Since the commencement of the DSO implementation in 2015, we have also licensed over 140 Digital Terrestrial Television Channels cutting across national, regional and local channels. We expect therefore that Lagos will quickly scale up to some 60 channels, within the next few weeks.

“I am sure that the Lagos state government will also now explore the information outlet on the box to reach citizens. We already have the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, State House and Ministry of Information on the information platform.

“It is my sincere honour again to welcome you to this event. May I also remind us that six months from today, analogue broadcasting will be switched off in Lagos, I therefore urge us all to acquire the set top boxes which are available and produced in country by Nigerians.

“I congratulate the Governor of Lagos for the very visible, exemplary and impactful leadership which he is providing for the good people of Lagos state and indeed Nigerians. I thank you sincerely for all the help and support towards the actualization of this Launch. I congratulate the good people of Lagos and welcome you to your new world of DTT Free TV.

Professor Idachaba regretted the lull for three years, saying it was part of efforts to streamline digital revolution in Nigeria

“After almost 3 years lull, I thank God that we have taken the bold task of commencing Phase 2 of the Digital Switch over with the switch on of Lagos today.

“The DTT free project by the Nigerian government is one that is home grown, unique in its philosophical under pinning which has the development of our indigenous culture and tradition, and the empowerment of the mass population of our country as a core value proposition. Our home manufactured Set Top Box is a melting point and convergence point of our collective heritage.”

He thanked the stakeholders, government and people of Lagos State for their efforts that made the program realistic, noting that the breakthrough will assist the state to achieve more technologically driven programs of the present administration.