The Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has restated the commitment of the Federal
Government to achieve the ‘Digital Switch Over’ in broadcasting by 2017.
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has restated the commitment of the Federal
Government to achieve the ‘Digital Switch Over’ in broadcasting by 2017.
Mohammed said with the digital
switchover, Nigeria would completely change the way television broadcasting is
done.
switchover, Nigeria would completely change the way television broadcasting is
done.
“We are going to revolutionise the
entire industry,” the minister said in a statement by his special adviser,
Segun Adeyemi, on Friday.
entire industry,” the minister said in a statement by his special adviser,
Segun Adeyemi, on Friday.
The minister also allayed fears
being expressed in some quarters that with the digital broadcasting, watching
television would be out of the reach of poor Nigerians.
being expressed in some quarters that with the digital broadcasting, watching
television would be out of the reach of poor Nigerians.
Mohammed also said all Nigerians,
regardless of their political party, background, tribe or religion, would
henceforth have equal access to publicly-owned media without any inhibition.
regardless of their political party, background, tribe or religion, would
henceforth have equal access to publicly-owned media without any inhibition.
He stated this in Abuja during an
interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on
Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values on Thursday.
interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on
Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values on Thursday.
Mohammed also said the President
Muhammadu Buhari administration would not abuse the trust reposed in it by
depriving Nigerians the opportunity to express their views through the public
media.
Muhammadu Buhari administration would not abuse the trust reposed in it by
depriving Nigerians the opportunity to express their views through the public
media.
He said, “As publicly-owned media
outlets, they are accountable to the people of Nigeria and not to the ruling
party or the ruling government and I would not accept a situation whereby
publicly-owned media would be seen just as the mouthpiece of government.
outlets, they are accountable to the people of Nigeria and not to the ruling
party or the ruling government and I would not accept a situation whereby
publicly-owned media would be seen just as the mouthpiece of government.
“We believe that as publicly-owned
media, the opposition and everybody in Nigeria must have equal access to us and
we must also represent their views. This is a multi-cultural, multi-value and
multi-opinionated country and, therefore, we must not abuse the fact that we
are currently in power and we are operating publicly-owned media to deprive
other Nigerians access to these media.”
media, the opposition and everybody in Nigeria must have equal access to us and
we must also represent their views. This is a multi-cultural, multi-value and
multi-opinionated country and, therefore, we must not abuse the fact that we
are currently in power and we are operating publicly-owned media to deprive
other Nigerians access to these media.”
He also said his ministry would
strive to ensure timely dissemination of factual and verifiable information to
keep the public abreast of government programmes and policies as well as get
their feedback on the perception of the government.
strive to ensure timely dissemination of factual and verifiable information to
keep the public abreast of government programmes and policies as well as get
their feedback on the perception of the government.
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