Nigeria’s long-delayed transition from analogue to digital broadcasting received a major boost on Tuesday as key stakeholders renewed their commitment to completing the Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme and adopted a new implementation strategy aimed at accelerating the process.

The renewed commitment emerged during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the National Broadcasting Commission under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja.

At the meeting, participants agreed to adopt a hybrid digital broadcasting model that combines Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite services, and digital application-based delivery platforms. The new framework is expected to broaden access to digital television services and fast-track Nigeria’s migration from analogue broadcasting.

Stakeholders dismissed suggestions that Digital Terrestrial Television should be abandoned, insisting that DTT remains a critical component of Nigeria’s digital broadcasting architecture and must continue to play a central role in the transition process.

They also agreed that the Digital Implementation Team (DigiTeam), which previously coordinated major aspects of the DSO programme, should be reconstituted to provide strategic leadership and drive implementation efforts across the industry.

Speaking at the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the gathering as a “family discussion” aimed at resolving outstanding issues that have slowed the implementation of the DSO project over the years.

The minister assured stakeholders that the Federal Government has no hidden agenda regarding the digital migration programme and emphasized that all decisions would be guided by national interest, inclusiveness, and the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry.

He acknowledged concerns raised by stakeholders regarding consultations and participation in the process, admitting that broader engagement should have commenced much earlier. Despite differing opinions on implementation strategies, Idris noted that all parties were united on the need for Nigeria to complete its transition to digital broadcasting.

Participants at the meeting reaffirmed that the DSO project remains essential to Nigeria’s economic and technological development. They identified job creation, attraction of new investments, promotion of local content, and support for indigenous manufacturing as some of the key benefits expected from the successful implementation of the programme.

The stakeholders also stressed the importance of regulatory certainty, stronger investor confidence, and closer collaboration among industry players to ensure the long-term sustainability of the broadcasting value chain.

A major issue raised during the discussions was the need to protect investments already made by licensed set-top box manufacturers and other operators participating in the DSO ecosystem. Stakeholders emphasized that any new implementation strategy must safeguard existing investments while creating opportunities for further growth and innovation within the sector.

The meeting ended with a renewed consensus among government officials, broadcasters, technology providers, and industry stakeholders that Nigeria must intensify efforts to finally complete its digital broadcasting transition after years of delays. The adoption of the hybrid model is expected to serve as a key step toward achieving that objective.

In a massive digital clampdown, the Nigerian government has deactivated a staggering 13,597,057 social media accounts across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, citing “offensive content and violations of the code of practice.”

The bombshell revelation came through the 2024 Code of Practice Compliance Report, jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

According to the report, no fewer than 58.9 million offensive posts were deleted from various platforms, while NITDA disclosed it received 754,629 complaints from Nigerian users. Startlingly, 420,439 contents were initially removed but later re-uploaded after appeals.

NITDA spokesperson Hadiza Umar hailed the compliance of global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, describing the mass takedowns as a “giant step towards sanitising Nigeria’s digital space.”

She declared:

“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into platforms’ efforts to protect users in line with the Code of Practice. This is a bold move towards a safer and more transparent online environment for Nigerians.”

With millions of accounts axed and tens of millions of posts wiped out, the government insists this is only the beginning of a sweeping drive to curb digital harm and enforce order in Nigeria’s social media space.

The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) has issued a three-day warning strike notice to Huawei Technologies Company Limited over alleged anti-labour practices.

Huawei is a global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices.

The PTECSSAN General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, in a letter addressed to the company, said the union has directed the withdrawal of services of its members from projects of the company effective between 12.00 a.m. May 2 and 11.59 p.m. May 4, 2023.

Abdullahi, in the letter made available to newsmen on Sunday, April 30, said the failure of the company to comply with the union’s demands after the warning strike would result in an indefinite strike.

He noted that the strike might cause telecommunications network disruptions as no worker would be available to attend to them.

The PTECSSAN official said: “We were constrained to embark on this industrial action when it became apparent to us that your company is not labour friendly and is not interested in peaceful and amicable resolutions of the concerns of our members.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we shall not be backing down on the warning strike except the following are agreed with the union.

“Immediate recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to freely associate with the union; immediate recognition of the union as negotiating body for the employees on workers welfare.

“Immediate remittance of membership dues into the union’s account as earlier provided; immediate payment of March salaries of some members of the union, among others.

“As we look forward to your company’s granting of our demands, please be assured of our union’s resolve to ensure better working conditions for her members.”

Other demands of the Telecommunications workers include the immediate regularisation of the employment of union members on the Huawei projects and the involvement of the union in the process.

Others are the immediate commencement of appropriate pensions deduction and remittance of same as required by the Pension Act.

“Immediate approval of the National Health Insurance Scheme that covers the employees, their spouses and four of their dependents.

“Immediate enrollment of Union members in the Group Life Insurance as stipulated in the Pension Reform Act 2004, Section 9(3).

“Immediate commencement of negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Conditions of Service) for the benefit of union members,” Abdullahi added.

Meanwhile, Huawei has yet to react to the latest development as of the time of filing this report.