The leadership of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has charged the National Assembly to help strengthen the Commission’s Act to give it the impetus to achieve results and measure up the digital standard expected of a regulator of broadcasting in the digital era.
The chairman of the board of the commission, Alhaji Aliyu Bilbis, and the Director General, Alhaji Modibbo Kawu, made the appeal at a two day management retreat organised in Ibadan for the National Assembly Committee on Information, National Orientation Ethics and Value.
Biblis who was represented by Alhaji Danladi Bako, said the digital switchover from analogue to digital terrestrial television platforms being a critical part of these projects has been stalled due to dearth of funds.
While seeking the support of the committee in the release of funds for the completion of the project which is a global phenomenon, he stated that the commission could achieve the goal of enthronement and sustenance of a laudable broadcasting industry when adequately supported by all stakeholders including the National Assembly.
The Director General of NBC, Kawu, on his part, said one of the major agenda of the industry today, is the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, stating that it was a major international commitment, that the country was undertaking, in consonance with the directives of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
He said, “As you might be aware, we have carried out the Digital Switch over (DSO), in six locations around the country. We want to accelerate the process of completion of the project around the country, but we face the challenge of financing.”
Modibbo who disclosed that Nigeria had a total of 726 radio and television stations with 445 radio stations and 281 television stations with new stations coming on literally, every month, saying “as we speak, we are processing a long list of new commercial radio stations; DTT television outfits; community radio stations; campus broadcasters as well as public institutions’ radio stations.”
The committee chairman, Segun Dokun Odebunmi, lauded the Director General and the entire management of the NBC, for organising the retreat which he said was meant to brief members of the committee on the mandate of the agency as well as Conception, Implementation, Benefits and Challenges of the Digital Switch Over (D S O) in Nigeria, including other past and present endeavours of the National Broadcasting Commission with a view to putting all hands on deck for the progress of broadcasting industry in Nigeria.
“It is my belief that at the end of this programme, we will all be on the same page as to the connection between the National Broadcasting Commission and Nigerians,” he said.
