As part of Muhammadu Buhari’s transformation agenda to take Nigeria into the Digital space, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) recently launched the second phase of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Kano State bringing to an end the moribund analogue transmission in Northern Nigeria’s largest city and commercial hub.
The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah while giving his welcoming speech at the occasion, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to timely and efficient completion of the DSO project across Nigeria which according to him will connect underserved populations and remote communities in Nigeria and provide inclusion to all and sundry.
Mallam Ilelah said: “NBC is keying into the agenda of the President Muhmmmadu Buhari’s administration to democratize information in digital broadcasting, empower the people and create millions of jobs along the value chain. Three days ago, 100 artisans from the 44 Local Government Councils were trained on Free TV dealership, installation and activations”.
“The D.G also expressed his delight thus:”I am overwhelmed with excitement as I stand here today to welcome you to the ancient city of Kano for the much anticipated Digital Switch On.
The 8th location to be launched but the first as the Director General of the NBC. I consider myself privileged to be a part of this life-changing digital phenomenon which holds a lot of promise for our creative minds as well as wealth creation opportunities for others in the set-top box manufacturing and distribution value-chain.”
Also speaking at the Kano DSO Launch Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said:” The key benefits of digital television broadcasting are wider choices in T. V and radio channels, improved picture quality, for example, High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD), high fidelity sound, greater flexibility with the potential for portable and mobile reception, enhanced information services including the electronic programming guide or enhanced ‘Teletext services for interactivity and increased market competition”.
Stressing that, “We have also instituted a number of reforms, some of them necessitating g amendments to the Broadcasting code which we have since carried out with the view to encouraging investments into the Broadcasting industry in particular and the creative industry in general.”
The host governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje said his administration has studied DSO and has identified areas it could use to promote digital technology in broadcasting in Nigeria.
A digital switchover is the migration of television broadcasting technology from analogue to digital systems. Kano is the second state in phase two of the DSO roll-out plan after Lagos in April 2021. With Plateau state pioneering the DSO in Nigeria. Other states that were in the phase one rollout plan include Kaduna, Enugu, Kwara, Osun, and the Federal Capital Territory – Abuja.
With the Federal Government determined to achieve a nationwide coverage of the Digital Switch Over, NBC has listed Rivers State in the South-South as the next in line to enjoy the new experience in broadcast content consumption that the digital broadcasting technology offers.
