The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Monday, kicked off four-day retreat at the ancient city of Kano to review Code and develop strategic templates that will drive the terminal segment of the delivery of Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Nigeria come June 20th.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of the NBC, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, said in order to ensure professionalism in broadcasting, the code has to be reviewed in line with Nigeria’s political aspirations and is expected to serve as a central document to keep professionals in check.
He said “We intend to produce a guiding document for professional engagement in Nigerian broadcasting that will turn out to be a document for effective use of new technology in tune with the nation’s political aspirations”.
“NBC want to carry out review that is in line with the latest technology in broadcasting
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Kano State Government, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, urged the NBC to continue to pay close attention to the activities of some broadcasters in Kano.
He said the review of the code comes at a when most local broadcast radio stations consistently breach the provisions of various sections of the Code, which include disregards for constituted authorities and unguarded comments that pose nothing but a threat to peace and stability of the state.
On whether June 20th 2017 will be feasible, a top official of the Commission told Business Hilights on phone that “the date is more like a benchmark everybody is looking at”.
“Even after that date, switch over will continue across some states that is not yet on board. It does not really mean that by that date, every state would have been on digital terrestrial transmission.
“The June 20th date was set as a guideline for every state to know that it’s serious and achievable.
We are working towards the date and will continue to roll out in states not yet online even after the dateline.
“NBC is continuing with the fixing of infrastructure in different parts of the country for seamless transmission. Hopefully before the year runs out so many states will be on digital TV services.
The retreat which end before the end of the week drew broadcasters from across Nigeria to review the nation’s Broadcasting Code in line with the realities of the new era in the broadcast industry.
