The initial N60 billion proposed for the project is no longer feasible, despite shifting the timelines for DSO twice; as forex and other factors cripple down Digital Switchover, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed has said
Although the planned Digital Switchover (DSO) from the analogue transmission is being funded with the N34 billion from the sale of the 2.6GHz bandwidth spectrum to MTN Nigeria in June 2016, the government is aware that June 2017 deadline is not sacrosanct.
According to the Minister of Information, speaking before the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives on the Process of DSO by June 2017. He told the committee chaired by Hon. Sunday Marshall Katung (Kaduna PDP) that the initial monetary proposal has been affected by the rate of foreign exchange, and inflation.
“The government can no longer afford to provide Set Top Boxes (STBs), for each household, and is, therefore, looking to collaborate with States and Local governments, to provide the boxes, which are required for the DSO. Adding that of the 13 licenses issued to manufacturers of STBs, only four are operational.
Mohammed disclosed that to to fast track the process by harmonizing efforts, the Nigerian government would hold a meeting with the governments of Cameroon, Niger Republic, Chad and Benin Republic.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Katung, in his address, said the while the pilot phase of the process has been launched in Jos and Abuja, many Nigerians remain unaware of the expectations of the DSO.
The success story of most countries that have successfully digitized is hinged on active public awareness, the lawmaker said.
He added that the June 2017 deadline seems aggressive and unachievable.
“A caution is required here to avoid being a victim of our exaggerated competence; we have missed the deadline twice. So it is important that the DSO transition in Nigeria should not be a political expediency as it is currently viewed, but should be thoroughly reviewed and implemented, taking into the view our current economic realities,” Katung said.
The House Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, presenting the opening address earlier, cautioned against exploitation of Nigerians, in the transition from analog broadcasting to digital.
Represented by the Chief Whip, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the Speaker, said there had been allegations that the DSO process was characterized by procedural irregularities, inconsistencies, and misappropriation of funds.
“I have heard from different quarters that the digital switch over will re-position the broadcast landscape architecture in Nigeria. We should use all legislative tools at our disposal to ensure its success.
Our aim is to ensure that Nigerians benefit maximally from this new modernization. We will strive to avoid a situation where the country becomes a dumping ground for all forms of digital equipment,” Dogara said.
In another development, the House Committee on Telecommunications has suspended the budget defense of the Ministry of Communications, to allow for oversight into 48 new projects embarked on by the Ministry.
Meanwhile, Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications had told the committee that the N4.9 billion budgeted for capital appropriation in 2016, was for one ongoing project, and 48 new ones.
He disclosed that the sum of N3,095,437,917 was released, while N3,003,494,193 had been accessed and expended by the ministry for the projects.
Six of the projects have been completed, while another six are above 70 percent completion with 14 below 70 percent completion level, and 23 not implemented at all, Shittu told the committee.
The sum of N5.9 billion is proposed for capital appropriation in the Ministry’s 2017 budget, with N216.7 million as overhead costs, and N742.8 million as personnel costs, totaling N6.7 billion.
The lawmakers however observed that the details of each project, and breakdown of expenditure, was not included in the budget defense documents.
