Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku says Nigeria is set to meet the deadline of July 2015 to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting as stipulated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He gave the assurance in Abuja in his address at an Extra-ordinary National Council on Information, which focussed on the digital migration and national security.
The Minister said with the recent launch of the pilot Digital Switch Over in Jos, Nigeria would fast-track the process of the migration in major cities, followed by the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr. Maku commended the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan through support and encouragement to the Digitisation Team and other stakeholders to realise the objective of the digital crossover.
He said under the new Global Digitisation Policy in broadcasting, functions in the industry would be separated with the broadcaster taking responsibility for the provision of content while the signal distributor takes charge of the transmission of signals to viewers. “This unique idea will lead to exponential growth in the number of television stations in the country that will be solely dedicated to programming, thereby creating thousands of jobs,” he stated.
Mr. Maku disclosed that the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in partnership with StarTimes had been licenced to set up a special entity that would transmit signals for public broadcast stations while the signal distributor for the private broadcast stations would soon be selected in a competitive bidding in line with global best practices.
He added that Content Access Fee will also come to effect as soon as authorities approve of it to replace the radio licence fee, which has been ineffective, in order to provide the lifeline that Nigerian broadcasters require to grow and compete favourably with other broadcasters around the world.
In addition, he said, the nation would earn huge revenue because the spectrums hitherto occupied by the broadcast stations would be freed and sold to entities involved in deepening broadband services to support internet access and penetration in the country.
The Minister therefore urged state governments to step up the process of transiting their broadcasters to the digital platform by investing in training and quality programming, which would be cost-effective as they would no longer expend resources on maintaining transmitting stations.
Mr. Maku also dwelt on the need for heightened public awareness for the people to appreciate and key into the policy and acquire the set-top boxes that would enable their television sets to receive signals from the distributors.
The Minister however expressed concern over insecurity in some states confronted by insurgency and said the unfortunate development would pose a challenge to the effective digitisation of the whole country if concerted efforts were not made by stakeholders in the communities to organise themselves and ensure there is peace and security.
While welcoming the idea of the digital migration in broadcasting, representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA) Ambassador Nwando harped on the security implication and areas of caution while embracing the new technology.
He said the Office of the NSA had taken steps to check cyber-crime in the country to guard against manipulating the new technologies by fraudsters to commit crime.
Commissioners for Information across the federation attended the meeting alongside the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN) among other stakeholders in the broadcast industry.
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING ON DIGITIZATION OF BROADCASTING AND NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INFORMATION (NCI) HELD AT THE ROCK VIEW HOTEL (ROYALE), PLOT 194/196 CADASTRAL ZONE A8, ADETOKUNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT WUSE II, ABUJA ON SATURDAY, 5TH JULY, 2014.
PREAMBLE
1.1. The Extraordinary Meeting of the National Council on Information (NCI) was held at the Rock View Hotel, Plot 194/196 Cadastral ZoneA8, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse II, Abuja on Saturday, 5thJuly, 2014. It was attended by 245delegates from 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Goodwill Messageswere presented by the ChairmenSenate and House Committees on Information. A Goodwill message was also presented by RATTAWU, while a presentation was made by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
1.2. In a keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Information, Mr. LabaranMaku, welcomed participants and delegates to the Extraordinary National Council on Information focusing on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria by 2015. He pointed out that the meeting was coming up barely five days after the historic Digital Switch Over pilot scheme was successfully carried out in Jos, Plateau State. He expressed his expectation that the meeting will enable Nigeria meet the deadline and averting a number of negative national consequences.
1.3. Mr.Maku also pointed out that the extra-ordinary session of NCI in Abuja was convened by the Federal Ministry of Information for stakeholders in the digital crossover to brainstorm and exchange views on how the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT will successfully transit from analogue to digital television broadcasting by next year.The Hon. Minister commended the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the leadership and support he provided to ensure that Nigeria exits analogue television broadcasting in 2015. He pointed out that since the DigiTeam was set up in 2012, the President had continuously monitored the progress being made in the process of the transition and has provided support to realise the objective.
1.4. In her opening remarks earlier, the Permanent secretary, Dr. FolasadeYemi-Esan, welcomed all delegates to the extraordinary Council Meeting and pointed out that the Meeting was expected to deliberate on two key issues of Digitization and National Security. She emphasized that the extraordinary session was to deliberate and reach firm conclusions on all issues and challenges capable of hindering or delaying Nigeria’s successful meeting of the deadline set by the International Communication Union (ITU) for transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by June 2015.
1.5. In his presentation, titled “The Digital Television Broadcasting Switch Over(DSO)”, Mr. EmekaMbathe Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, outlined the various benefits of digitization and assured all stakeholders of his organization’s continuous monitoring and support till the end of the Switch Over programme.
2.0. After exhaustive deliberations, Council resolved as follows:-
i. State Governmentsshould intensify efforts towards achieving Digital Switch Over (DSO).
ii. All concerned should concentrate on upgrading studios from analogue to digital
iii. States that have not set up StateDigi-Teams should do so, so that the team will liaise with NBC/National Digi-Team to fast track Digital Switch Over.
iv. States should amend the Laws establishing their TV stations towards enhancing successful Digital Switch Over
v. The National Council of States and National Economic Council should be briefed on the programme of Digital Switch Over by the Hon. Minister of Information.
vi. The digiTeam and the National Broadcasting Commission should produce publicity materials and distribute to states for domestication in local languages.
vii. National Broadcasting Commission should collaborate with RATTAWU on publicity for Digital Switch Over nationwide.
viii. National Broadcasting Commission and the National Digi-Team should institute aggressive training capacity building for stations to address issues of capacity and skillgaps in the areas of production, engineering, etc,.
ix. The Federal and State Governments should adequately fund the digitization and Digital Switch Over programmesto ensure accessibility by all Nigerians to Set Top Boxes, especially the rural populace.
x. National Broadcasting Commission should enforce strict compliance by all TV Stations.
xi. All State Stations should assist in creating awareness for the Digital Switch Over.
xii. DigiTeam and NBC should draw up a must do list for the transition.
xiii. State should cross check with the DigiTeam and NBC on all aspect of their Digitization
2.1 On National Security, Council noted:
a) The need for state governments to take primary responsibility for mobilizing their citizens against insurgency.
b) The need for states to support and encourage the Federal Government and Security Agencies in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.
c) The need to desist from the attitude of giving negative information on the insurgency and our armed forces to foreign media.
d) That security challenges are also local matters and states and local governments should therefore look inward in dealing with the situation.
e) Professional information managers at both Federal and State levels should fashion out media programmes in different languages to address urgent security challenges
COMMUNIQUE COMMITTEE
State Representatives
• Hon. (Barr) Olivia Dazyam (Chairman)- Plateau State (North Central)
• Hon. Hussaini G. Yammama. – Katsina State (North West)
• Mr. Sunday Akere-Osun State (South West)
• Mr. Samuel Onyiaji – Enugu State (South-East)
• Muhammad GamboIbbi – Yobe State (North East)
• Mr. Freedom Ejom – Cross River (South-South)
Federal Representatives
• Mr. E. N. Agbegir – Federal Ministry of Information
• Mr. J. K. Lawal – ”
• Mr. GreyneAnosike – “
• Mr. Lawrence Ojabo – “
• Mr. Pascal Dogo
