‘N45bn needed’ for digital swithcover

The head of Gospell Digital Technology, Godfrey Ohuabunwa, has revealed that over N45bn will be required to allow digital broadcasting to take off in Nigeria.

Ohuabunwa, CEO and group MD, whose company makes set-top boxes in the Calabar Free Trade Zone, made the claim recently after his facilities were inspected by members of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) board.

He said the federal government is yet to release the previously approved N15bn to the NBC to facilitate the switchover from analogue to digital.

He claimed the delay in switching over could cost his company about US$50m, which has already been invested in human and material resources.

“If this digital switchover fails to take place, more than US$50m will be lost on our own side, not to mention by other people. On the job alone, we are going to lose about 5,000 to 6,000 direct jobs. This is why it’s a huge problem.

“We are worried that the delay in the NBC announcing its timetable is beginning to negatively impact on our production. We know how much resources, in terms of capital and human resources, we have put in for our dream to be realised.”

He urged the NBC to release a comprehensive timetable that will guide the digital switchover.

tagged in: Godfrey Ohuabunwa, Gospell Digital Technology, National Broadcasting Commission