By Abubakar Yunusa
The long-running Digital Switch Over (DSO) crisis has resurfaced, with set-top box manufacturers launching a fresh attack on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The manufacturers, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN), accused the NBC of recklessness, policy inconsistencies and disregard for court orders.
In a strongly worded statement, STBMAN Chairman, Sir Godfrey N. Ohuabunwa, described Nigeria’s 17-year-old DSO project as a “national disgrace”.
He said the country had continued to lag behind, even as nations that once looked up to Nigeria for direction had overtaken it.
Despite aligning with concerns earlier raised by the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN), the group alleged that the NBC had persistently ignored stakeholders and the Federal Government’s White Paper guiding the DSO rollout.
The association insisted that local industries must be protected in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy.
It also warned against any distortion of the DSO roadmap, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law to sustain investor confidence.
In a stinging allegation, STBMAN accused the commission of taking actions capable of undermining a valid court order.
“No authority is above the law. A subsisting court order must be obeyed,” the group stated.
The manufacturers further criticised alleged plans to import hybrid set-top boxes from China, describing the move as a betrayal of local investors and government policy.
“Why import what Nigerians can produce?” the statement queried.
STBMAN called for urgent presidential intervention, urging the Federal Government to halt any licensing or importation process pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.
It warned that failure to act could force the association to initiate contempt proceedings against the NBC and its top officials.
The DSO project, once seen as a transformative leap for Nigeria’s broadcasting sector, now faces an uncertain future amid deepening disputes.
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