Sanwo-Olu urges FG to speed up financing of digital broadcast
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has advised the Federal Government on the need to muster necessary political will and make necessary funds available towards actualising the digital transformation process of the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
The Governor made the call while speaking at the formal event of the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 72 General Assembly of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) held at the corporate premises of Television Continental (TVC), situated in Shangisha, Ketu, Lagos.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Jaji, Sanwo-Olu observed that the world was in a digital era and the prevailing technological changes has a huge impact on all media forms hence, he said, Nigeria could not afford to be a spectator in the global digital transition.
Speaking on the AGM theme “Nigeria’s Digital Transition, a Panacea for Economic Growth”, the Governor noted that the transition from analogue to digital television era began around 2004 throughout Europe and America, adding that today, most countries except many in Africa have completely turned off with analogue broadcasting.
According to him, the time for Nigeria to actualise the digitisation that took off in 2008 was now, adding that it was incumbent on the government to devote sufficient political will to provide funding towards conclusion of the digital the process.
Regretting that Nigeria had missed three earlier deadlines for realising the digital objective in 2012, 2015 and 2017, the Governor noted that just as we are today witnessing a situation where our youths prefer foreign football leagues to the local league, we are already having a situation where similar situation is staring at us with preference for foreign channels over the indigenous ones.
The Governor who on the occasion solicited support of the media industry towards delivering on his government’s campaign promises stated, however, that his administration was committed totally to actualising the Lagos Mega City project, adding that the administration was continually striving to ensure that Lagos remains a prime example of the economic power in Africa’s mega cities.
Also In his opening remarks at the event, Acting Chairman of BON, Nnamdi Ohuabunwa, reiterated calls to the government to make funds available towards realisation of the digital switch over while also calling on the industry regulator, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ensure it provides the needed the road map and well informed time table on the agenda for analogue switch-off.
“The delay in bringing out a road map and well-informed time table for analogue switch-off and for those that will switch on is something that is very critical because if there is no firm plan or time table on ground, it will continue to create doubts and confusion in the industry,” he stated.
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