Minister: FG working to release blueprint for rollout of digital switchover

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says the federal government is working “assiduously” to unveil a comprehensive digital switchover for the country.

A digital switchover is the migration from analogue television broadcasting technology to digital systems.

The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari through a ministerial task force chaired by Lai Mohammed, immediate-past minister of information, worked on advancing the switchover.

Idris, who spoke on Monday during a retreat for the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said the government-owned TV station would play a key role in the process.

“I also want to use this opportunity to restate federal government commitment to the digital switchover (project), as the ministry of information and national orientation is working assiduously for a DSO blueprint that will not fail, that will roll out across urban and rural Nigeria,” Rabiu Ibrahim, media aide to the minister, quoted his principal as saying.

“The NTA, as a key stakeholder in the DSO project, is expected to play a prominent role.

“Our commitment to excellence and adaptability is paramount. The NTA must continue to evolve, embracing innovation while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

“This retreat is coming at a time when there is a growing number of options for the viewing public to source information from, more especially against the backdrop of the dominant role of social media and the preponderance of false and misleading information therein; therefore, the significance of an event of this nature cannot be overemphasized.”

The minister said NTA should continue to enlighten Nigerians on the successes being recorded by the federal government.