Aminu Imam
The prolonged and troubled journey towards Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) in broadcasting has once again come under scrutiny in light of the recent N10billion grant by the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC).
The Set Top Box Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (STBMAN), represented by its Chairman, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, has voiced strong concerns regarding Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO)
projects direction, attributing the delays to either corruption or incompetence within the responsible agencies.
At a recent press conference held in Abuja, the STBMAN highlighted the significant challenges that have hindered the progress of the DSO. Originally, the project was intended to transition Nigeria from analogue to digital broadcasting, a move aligned with the countrys obligations under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) protocol. The initiative, which started with high hopes, aimed to cover all 36 States by a June 2017 deadline, a goal that has repeatedly been missed.
Ohuabunwa outlined that the setbacks began as early as the pilot phase in 2015, which was marred by misinformation and the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). These challenges eroded the confidence of international business partners and have led to only partial coverage in a few states and cities, including Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, leaving the majority of the country unserved.
Criticism was also directed at the NBC, which manages the DSO project. According to Ohuabunwa, the NBC has failed to demonstrate the necessary leadership, leading to wasted investments and growing distrust among both local and foreign stakeholders. He emphasized that despite the financial support from the federal government, the project has stalled, with funds either misappropriated or diverted.
The STBMAN Chairman questioned the recent decisions by the NBC, particularly the shift from the previously agreed specifications of Set Top Boxes to a new hybrid Android/DTH model. He warned that this change could render obsolete the significant investments already made by local manufacturers, and that it contradicts the government’s local content policies.
The association also raised concerns about the potential financial burden on Nigerian consumers, who would need to purchase new Android-based boxes, moving away from the “Free TV” model originally promised. This shift, Ohuabunwa argued, would not only lead to economic losses but also undermine the technological development within Nigeria.
The STBMAN further stated that: “It is against the backdrop that we believe Mr. President, a believer in the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, will not allow these efforts go to waste. Unlike the previous Presidents, the current is uniquely blessed with the clear understanding and benefits of a technology-driven economy and the benefits accruable therefrom, and will therefore support the completion of the transition.
“We are therefore drawing the attention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and the Federal Government to the planned wrong utilisation of the N10billion grant by the NBC, which if not halted NOW, may go the way of the previous, which case is still lingering in court”.
“We have taken this step in the firm belief and support that governmental actions are tailored for the good of the people and for that reason, no sacrifice is too much to make; however, circumstances may compel us to take measures that will salvage our already tainted images from further destruction by actions the NBC, which despite its numerous assurances has done little or
nothing but exposing us to ridicule and embarrassment from our business partners, especially the banks and foreign associates”.
The STBMAN concluded with a call for immediate action from the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It demanded that the NBC hold a general stakeholders meeting, involving key industry players such as the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN), to discuss and agree on the way forward.
They also insisted that the existing DSO framework, established by the 2015 Government White Paper, remain intact and that no new specifications or licenses be introduced without broad consensus.
The STBMAN’s concerns reflect the broader frustration within the broadcasting sector over the direction of the DSO project, with many fearing that without urgent intervention, the project may never fully materialize, to the detriment of the nations technological and economic progress.
