Federal government has inaugurated a 25-man advisory committee to ensure the smooth transition of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. The committee is headed by Engr. Isaac Wakombo, a former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) staff.
It also has Engr. Eddy Amana of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) as chairman (technical) while Kemlinks International Limited is on the committee as technical Consultants.
Other members of the committee include a member each from Nigerian Television Authority, Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, Nigerian Film Corporation, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Nigerian Consumer Protection Council.
The committee also accommodates members from the Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria, Daar Communication, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Communication Commission, Channels Television, Newage Communications, National Broadcasting Commission, Silverbird Communication, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, a retired director of the Osun State Broadcasting Service and an NTA retired director of Marketing.
John Odey, minister of Information and Communications explained that the inauguration of the committee was a direct response of president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to the instruction from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that member countries should accomplish transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by the year 2015 for the UHF and 2020 for the VHF.
He informed that the NBC given the urgency of the project envisaged that the transition is achievable earlier than the deadline of 2015 and consequently set June 17, 2012 as Nigeria’s own deadline for the switchover.
Represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, minister of state in the ministry, Odey said that president Yar’Adua is fully aware that Nigeria cannot be left behind in the issue given the drastic consequences failure to comply will bring on the nation’s broadcast industry and the information sector in general.
According to him, "if we do not follow the trend, our country will become a dumping ground for analogue equipment apart from loosing other benefits associated with digitization."
The committee which has three months to conclude and submit its report would work with the following terms of reference - recommend a policy on digital terrestrial broadcast transition using global best practices, recommend appropriate regulatory framework, recommend a national broadcasting model, assess the impact of digitisation on consumers and recommend possible government intervention, determine the quantum of expected digital dividend, assess the environmental impact of digitisation if any and recommend steps to be taken as well as advice government on any action relevant to smooth transition in Nigeria.
Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, DG, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had in his remarks, advised the committee to come up with impeccable strategies that will help government in fast-tracking the process of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
