Vanguard News
Frightening auguries for a country’s DSO
On
By Okoh Aihe
If some miracles don’t happen very soon around the corner, the euphoria over the launch of the second phase of the Digital Switchover, DSO, which began in Lagos penultimate week, could as well be an ephemeral little bubble which doesn’t need the sharp accuracy of a needle to deflate. Pity that some rising joy representing some rare hope in today’s Nigeria will die prematurely. Reason for this apocalyptic conclusion is this writer’s understanding of what is happening in the broadcast sector.
You cannot flagellate the ordinary Nigerian for being so hopeful about opening opportunities to enjoy digital TV signals. After all, he would enjoy the beauty of television, like the big man is used to. However, it is pertinent to observe that the process which started years ago has been long in shaping into something recognisable and meaningful in Nigeria. In fact, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, which should be implementing the programme has suffered leadership crisis with current head, Prof Armstrong Idachaba, remaining in acting capacity for over a year. It is little surprise that the DSO was stalled for about three years, within which period the nation actually regressed in the progress it made in the transition.