Minister constitutes Task Force for Digital Switchover implementation in Nigeria

*The Ministerial Task Force is constituted to drive the process for a successful Digital Switchover, which is a massive job creator and huge revenue generator, says Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information and Culture

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In order to drive the implementation process towards a successful Digital Switchover in Nigeria for massive job creation and huge revenue generation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, has constituted a Ministerial Task Force.

The Minister stated this Tuesday, February 23 at a press conference in Abuja, FCT, disclosed the Task Force   is saddled with the responsibility of driving the Federal Government’s Digital Switchover (DSO) project in the country.

Digital Switchover project in Nigeria

Mohammed appointed himself as the Chairman of the committee, while Joe Mutah, his Press Secretary, will serve as Secretary.

Other members of the Task Force are as follows:

1. Prof. Armstrong Idachaba (National Broadcasting Commission)
2. Engineer Edward Amana (Digiteam)
3. Dr. Tunde Adegbola (Digiteam)
4. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim (Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria)
5. Engineer Sadeeq Musa (ITS)
6. Mr. Godfrey Ohuabunwa (Set-Top-Box Manufacturers), standing in for BON Chair
7. Dr. Lekan Fadolapo (APCON)
8. 9  Ms. Aisha Shehu Omar (Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning)
9. Mr. J. O. Attah (Nigeria Customs Service); represented here by Mr. Dalhatu
10. Mr. Nnanna Ibom (Federal Ministry of Information and Culture)
11. Engineer Olusegun Yakubu (Pinnacle Communications); and
12. Mr. Toyin Zubair (In view)

The Minister, on the constitution of the taskforce, noted that the Federal Government needed to reduce its involvement in the DSO ecosystem and allow the private sector of the economy to take the lead on purely commercial terms.

Mohammed stated: “With the devastating effects of COVID-19 and the fall in government revenues, the Federal Government can no longer afford to subsidise the programme, especially the Set-Top Boxes and the Signal carriage, which ordinarily can and should be highly-competitive commercial ventures.

“My decision to set up the Ministerial Task Force to drive the DSO process is hinged on the fact that a successful Digital Switchover is a massive job creator and a huge revenue generator, this process is capable of creating over 1 million jobs over the next three years.”

He added that “as part of our efforts to maximise the opportunities available in the process, we have made necessary changes in the Broadcast Code to protect local jobs and production.

“We have started the process of introducing world-class Audience Measurement and Media Monitoring to deliver on our potential 1-billion-dollar TV and Online Advertising revenue market, and now we will ensure that the DSO ecosystem delivers value to the economy.”