Broadcasting
DSO Under South African Attack
By George Dishpat
Considering the many tales of the unexpected emerging from the ongoing face off between the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the ICPC, it is tempting to believe that there is more than meets the eyes behind the peculiar situation.
It is unusual for the ICPC to be engulfed in a face-off with a government agency it is investigating to the extent that has manifested thus far, especially when it is the ICPC that has been boxed into a corner of silent response to public criticism and ridicule of the purported findings of its supposed investigations into the affairs of NBC concerning the Digital Switch Over (DSO).
What really is going on ?
There is no doubt that ICPC goofed by issuing a press release that was supposed to blow its trumpet on investigations into the payment of N2.5 billion to Pinnacle Communications Limited, the licensed private national signal distributor for the DSO project, which it made the world to believe was fraudulent.
Instead, the world was left believing that the ICPC investigation was fraudulent if it did not even know the correct name of the subject of its probe (NBC), if it could come out stating that the DSO was about telephone lines and if it had no idea about the five year existing status of Pinnacle Communications Limited as licensed signal distributor in the DSO project, for which it provided the platform for the national launch in December 2016 and later broadcast centers in Abuja and Kaduna.
Surprisingly however, not withstanding these discrediting blunders, the ICPC which claimed to have obtained statements from executives of NBC and Pinnacle Communications Limited had gone ahead to freeze accounts of Pinnacle Communications Limited. A Federal High Court in Abuja lifted the freeze order and berated the ICPC for unjustified action. It has now been confirmed that the ICPC misadventure was based entirely on the prodding of George Uboh Whistle Blower Network and its November 2018 petition against Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, DG NBC Ishaq Modibbo Kawu and Chairman Pinnacle Communications Limited, Sir Lucky Omoluwa “on the N10 billion FGN released in 2016 for the DSO program”.
Interestingly, the petition had erroneous references similar to those in the ICPC press release such as stating that the DSO was “aimed at migrating Nigeria’s communication from analogue to digital platforms”, that Pinnacle Communications Limited was not qualified for the payment but “approved by Modibbo Kawu” and that “the entire job for the N2.5 billion has not been executed.”
For the avoidance of doubt, George Uboh has taken to the social media as a lone voice commending the ICPC for “initiating prosecution against the Director-General of National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Ish’aq Kawu Modibbo and Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Mr. Lucky Omoluwa” and taking responsibility for the petition which he also sent to the National Assembly. Curiously however, both Uboh and the ICPC dropped reference to Information Minister Lai Mohammed even though he is supervising minister who closely monitored and participated in major events of the DSO project.
But the NBC and the DSO had earlier been targeted more directly in the process of which the mask came off and the cause of the enemy action that has trailed the implementation of the project since 2014, leading to two postponements and protracted litigations against subterranean schemes to pirate licenses paid and issued, was no longer in doubt.
What began as a bill to amend the NBC Act “to strengthen the commission and make it more effective to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria, and to ensure that all television and cable services run education programs in line with school sylabi and curricula” at the National Assembly dramatically took on a sinister unpatriotic foreign-powered dimension when it was discovered that two anti-DSO sections were surreptitiously smuggled into the amendment bill.
The smuggled sections would have technically dismantled the DSO’s basic components, especially the exclusive role of signal distributors and use of single frequency transmissions for the ulterior objective of permitting MULTICHOICE/GOTV South African cable entertainment television monopoly cartel to continue their own independent transmissions without having to be routed through DSO signal distributors.
It should be noted that current licenses of the South African cartel for terrestrial transmissions had already been barred from renewal by the NBC, leaving them with no option than to comply with the DSO programme stipulations or shut down.
As a result the South Africans who have also stoutly resisted measures by the Consumer Protection Council to check their profiteering and discriminatory policies protested by Nigerian customers, resorted to “any means necessary” to thwart the NBC’s insistence on strict compliance with DSO regulations.
They even paid unsolicited funds into NBC account in a bid to circumvent the expiry of their licenses from June this year, but NBC promptly reversed the payment just as the attendance of the dubious NBC amendment hearings by a high-powered team of Multichoice mandarins raised eyebrows about their links to the anti-DSO sections hidden in the bill.
Mercifully, President Buhari firmly and commendably withheld assent and sent the NBC Amendment Bill back to the legislature pointing out that the two offending sections ousted some of the NBC’s vital powers.
Obviously then, it is the continued smooth and systematic implementation of the DSO by NBC and Pinnacle Communications Limited that is the real target of the series of master-minded threats being witnessed while the vicious pursuit of unbridled profiteering and consumer-hostile policies of the South African cartel is the hidden agenda.
Already there has been no progress in the expansion of the coverage of the DSO as originally envisaged since the cartel began plotting to circumvent the DSO regulations by seeking to destabilize the NBC and paralyze Pinnacle Communications Limited.
The DSO must not be scuttled yet again and the need for the Buhari Administration to protect one of its major pace-setting achievements from espionage and sabotage is urgent and paramount.
George Disphat, Policy Analyst in Jos
Multichoice Nigeria, leading pay TV operator, has again increased the subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages by at least 25 per cent .
ohn Ugbe,
Multichoice announced the increase in tarrifs in a message sent to subscribers on Wednesday and said that the new regime will be effective May 1.
The company stated this in the statement signed by John Ugbe, chief executive officer was titled, ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages.’
The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.
The company said, “We understand the impact this change may have on you – our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision.
“It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service. So, from Wednesday, 1 May 2024, the price adjustment will take effect.”
With the review, customers on the DStv Premium package will see their monthly subscription fee increase to N37,000 starting from May 1, marking a 25.4% rise from the current N29,500.
Also, price of the Compact+ bouquet has been raised to N25,000 from N19,800 per month, reflecting a 26.2% increment.
DStv has also announced that subscribers on its Compact bouquet will now pay N15,700, up from the current N12,500, representing a 25.6% increase.
Meanwhile, those on the Confam package will face a 25.6% hike as their monthly subscription rises to N9,300 from N7,400.
Under the new pricing structure, viewers on the DStv Yanga bouquet will be charged N5,100 for their monthly subscription, marking a 21.43% increase over the current N4,200 fee.
Multichoice has announced price increases across its GOtv packages. Customers on the Supa Plus package will now pay N15,700, marking a 25.6% rise from the current price of N12,500. Similarly, the Supa bouquet will see its price increase to N9,600 from the current N7,600.
For the GOtv Max subscription, the new price is N7,200, up from N5,700, while the Jolli package will now cost N4,850, compared to the current price of N3,950. Multichoice has also adjusted the price of its lowest GOtv package, Jinja, which will now be N3,300 monthly instead of the current N2,700.
Broadcasting
Alleged $500m wasteful investments: I stand by my words, Heineken Lokpobiri dares Wabote
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Hon Minister Of State For Petroleum Resources have reiterated that he stands by his statement at The Petroleum Club’s quarterly event in Lagos, that NCDMB wasted over $500 million of the industry’s fund in equity investments in private establishments and in loans that are now non-performing.
The minster while reacting to recent media statement by SIMBI Wabote, former executive secretary to the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board, NCDMB, dismissed as blatant lies from the pit of hell, claims that his office requested for increase on NCDMB budget by N30 billion for the office of the Minister.
In a statement signed by the Nneamaka Okafor ,SA Media and Communication, Minister Of State For Petroleum Resources(Oil),the minister noted that ‘’Our position is that he who alleges must prove same. So, if Mr. Wabote has proof of such conversation, he is challenged to provide same.
‘’Secondly the Minister has no aide called Blackson. All his aides were duly selected in line with extant laws and have documents to that effect.
According to the statement ‘’The Minister in his capacity as chairman of the Governing Council stands by his statement at The Petroleum Club’s quarterly event in Lagos, and as journalists I welcome you to visit the places mentioned to verify the allegations for yourself.
‘’Thirdly, the said Atlantic Refinery was supposed to be built in Mr Wabote’s home town, he should show Nigerians where that refinery is.
‘’Fourthly, the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical company was also paid for, you are welcomed to also visit the site to verify the facts for yourself.
The statement noted that Investigations are ongoing and the truth will surely come to light and monies belonging to the generality of Nigerians will be recovered for Nigerians.
‘’Let me add that these revelations are not new, they were first made during an investigative hearing of the House of representative committee on local content. Again the records are there and you are welcome to verify these facts.
‘’The Minister has never been part of any budgeting process of any parastatal under the Ministry, you are welcomed to visit these agencies to verify for yourself.
‘’Finally, the Minister’s office is run with a budget superintended by the permanent secretary and so one will wonder, how the Minister will ask another entity to make provisions for the budget of his Office. The Minister has an impeccable record from his time as Minister of Agric and will continue to stand for the truth.
The Minister and Indeed the Chairman of the Governing Council of the NCDMB will not abdicate his responsibility to please anyone. He has a responsibility to ensure that, that which belongs to Nigerians is judiciously used for Nigerians
‘’I have had course to read Mr Wabote’s release and every one can see that he is still nursing the wounds of being replaced even after spending seven years at the Board. At best, this is a clear case of when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back.
It would be recalled that the Minister at at an event in vowed to recoup alleged investments worth over $500m made by the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB).
However, The erstwhile Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr.Simbi Wabote had earlier debunked the Minister’s statement describing it as reckless.
Wabote challenged the Minister to visit the sites of the projects the agency invested in while accusing the Minister of playing politics.
“The HMSPR-Oil is implored to visit the construction sites to avail himself of facts on ground. He should also check the MPR archives of the strategic plan to diversify oil and gas development clusters in the Niger Delta using Bonny Island, Brass Island, Onne, Ogidigben, Ibom, etc. Perhaps, this will cure his aversion to any developmental initiative in Brass Island and the Niger Delta in general.” Wabote said.
Broadcasting
Techy Accountants in partnership with ACCA Host AccounTech Summit to Empower Finance Professionals
The AccounTech Summit, hosted by The Techy Accountant in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), is a groundbreaking event designed to navigate the evolving landscape of the finance industry in the digital era.
Recognizing the critical need for finance professionals to adapt to technological advancements and emerging trends, this summit is a driving force for innovation, transformation, and progress.
The event is set to take place as follows:
Date: August 15th, 2024,
Location: Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel in Lagos, Victoria Island, Nigeria.
Time: 9:00 A.M
The summit aims to celebrate achievements in the finance sector, support entrepreneurship ventures, and enlighten participants on industry challenges and opportunities. With a focus on bridging the employability gap and promoting high-quality skill development in finance, the summit aims to address the evolving landscape of the industry in the digital age.
Over the past six years, The Techy Accountant has graduated over 1000 finance professionals and trained more than 5000 individuals worldwide.
Event Highlights
The one-day event will bring together over 200 attendees, including finance professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics, and Techies.
Attendees can expect a day of immersive learning and collaboration, culminating in an award and grant ceremony. Event Highlights include keynote sessions, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all centred around the theme “Emerging Tech in Accounting & Finance – A Game Changer.”
Commenting on the summit, Mrs. Toyin Olufon, Founder of The Techy Accountant stated, “We believe in equipping finance professionals with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing industry”.
Commenting on the collaboration, Mopelola Jatto, CFA, Regional Head, ACCA Nigeria remarked, “Partnering with The Techy Accountant underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and driving excellence in the finance profession. Together, we aim to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in the digital age.”
TO REGISTER, VISIT: https://thetechyaccountant.org/event/the-techy-accountants-account-tech-summit-2024
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