Reps say NTA, Others can Leverage on NigComSat for Digital Broadcasting

Bubar Jubrin, House Committee chairman, Information & National Orientation, has said that Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Voice of Nigeria (VON)  are in position to leverage the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NigComSat) facilities in their ongoing efforts to achieve  digitalization in 2015.

Jubril who expressed satisfaction with the ingenuity of local engineers at the place said it would be regrettable and amount to a colossal waste if all the facility in NigComsat are not utilized by Nigerians, especially government agencies.

As a nation, he said that Nigeria should be proud to do things in her own terms and faith, instead of outsourcing technologies that could be found locally, which encourages capital flight.

“It will be regrettable and monumental waste if all these facilities that are in place are not used. Apart from the social and security implications, as a nation, Nigerians should be proud to do things in their own terms and faith instead of outsourcing these things and encourage capital flight.

‘‘For us, government ministries, departments and agencies like NTA, VON, NBC are in position to utilize what we have been able to acquire here, particularly the digitalization scheme that is now ongoing, which is hoped to be achieved in 2015,’’ he said.

While pledging to partner with the agency, the House Chairman further promised to create a synergy between the agency and other government MDAs to enable Nigeria achieve its digital plan by 2015.

“We are indeed impressed with what we have seen here and we are going to do what is in our capacity to make sure that this agency succeeds. We will partner with this agency and engage other concerned MDAs to see how you can come together and achieve the digital objective target in 2015,’’ he added.

In terms of legislation,  he said that the committee would be able to partner with NigComsat and see what happen in other jurisdictions, so that they will be able to put together a legislation to make the agency more viable.

Earlier in his address, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, managing Director of NigComsat, said the issue of national satellite has strategic importance on the economic growth.

“Our plead is to help us so that relevant institution like NTA can come on board and also for us to be part of analog to digital migration policy.

“If we are part of this national assignment, it is a responsibility that we must deliver adequately. We already have a dead-end that can take 1,000 channels but we have a facility for 100 channels because to add additional channels is just to get more license available.

“The whole idea is to enhance the gross domestic product, GDP of the nation by making services local,  so that Nigeria will not be paying for the new era of broadcasting rather than going outside.

He  explained that the facilities when properly utilized, could offer millions of jobs to unemployed youths.

“If these facilities are utilized, apart from intensifying, justifying the investment of government in the satellite, we can also use these facilities enhance our GDP, create more jobs and wealth for our people and also have control of what actually goes out from the broadcasting industry,’’ he added.

While recommending the Indian style of authorizing digital satellite, Jubril further called for a legislation force that would give force to the implementation.