Digital Switchover: Nigeria Will Meet June 2017 Deadline — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the Abuja Digital Switchover from analogue broadcasting, even as he promised that the Federal Government would meet the June 2017 deadline.
The inauguration would provide 33 digital channels to television viewers, easy access to public and private sector information as well as new programming and current affairs.
The president, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the event, appealed to the 36 states, the FCT as well as the 774 local government areas in the country to embrace the programme in order to create jobs for the youth.
“Let me state for emphasis that this government is irreversibly committed to meeting the June 2017 deadline for the switch over in the West African sub-region and also to the roll out of the digital switch over in all the states of the federation.
Buhari recalled the advent of television broadcasting from black and white, which was the ultimate then, to colour TV.
But he added that digitisation had moved viewing from mere video to crispy and real life presentations.
According to him, no one knows that video and audio can get so closer to real life until the digital revolution and later high definition television.
He noted that technology had transformed the lives of many, adding that more doors would be opened by digital transmission in the country.
“Digitisation will create jobs in the area of content and software development, provide platforms for film producers and musicians to release their productions directly to households.
“This would of cause substantially cut off piracy,’’ he added.
The President expressed happiness that the set boxes being deployed for the switchover were manufactured in the country just as the signal distributor was a wholly owned Nigerian company.
