All is getting set for Niger State to follow the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) closely in the ongoing drive to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial TV transmission.
Whereas sources at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Tuesday confided on our correspondent that all is set for next week Digital Switch Over (DSO) of the FCT, the Niger State Government said it has spent about N600 million on the procurement of modern facilities in its effort to transfer from analogue to digital broadcasting for the state television and radio stations.
A top official of the NBC confided in Business Hilights that “Series of finishing touches meetings have been ongoing and we want to assure Nigerians and Abuja residents in particular that we are set to go digital in the nation’s capital come December 13th or so”.
“Whether the multi-billion naira trapped by the EFCC which the presidency has ordered be returned to NBC is in or out, we are set to launch Abuja into the digital world next week, all things being equal.
Though some junior staff of the agency expressed mixed feelings on the funding aspect, saying not much can be said to be happening ahead of the Abuja launch of DSO, indications are rife that the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had taken the planned launch seriously and is working alongside the Director General of NBC, Mr. Kawu Modibbo to make sure it was successful.
The Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa announced this Monday shortly after conducting media practitioners round two state broadcasting outfits.
He said so far, all facilities needed had been on ground ready for installation and for commencement of test transmission by early January 2017.
He explained that arrangements had been completed to send four engineers to Italy for training on how to effectively handle the new digital equipment.
“By next week, our officials will be traveling to Italy for the training to meet up the digitisation deadline of June 2017,” Vatsa said.
He also said that reporters would be re-trained to acquire more knowledge to meet the modern day practice of journalism and content development for the DSO drive.
