The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has assured Nigeians that the country would not miss out on the 2017 deadline for the Digital Switchover (DSO).
NBC Director General, Mr Modibbo Kawu, said that the fund would not be a problem, as President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to release the N10 billion recovered loot to the commission.
The fund was part of the proceeds from the sales of spectrum made by the past administration which was diverted.
He made the disclosure yesterday while briefing Journalists in Abuja on the forthcoming International Conference for African Broadcasters (AFRICAST) which is expected to be attended by more than 700 people from the continent.
Kawu noted the agency is already processing the release of the money, which he said will be committed into the country’s digitalisation process.
He said: “President Muhammed Buhari has gracious approved that the N10 billion be returned to NBC so that we can use it for digital transmission process. The money will be used as part of what we have being dong so far. I would not be letting out the secret if I tell you that money that was taken from the account of NBC into the EFCC recovery account.”
He also assured that going by the level of work, the country would meet up with the Digital Switch Over (DSO) 2017 deadline. “I am optimistic that we are going to achieve the 2016 digital switch over deadline. Two or three weeks ago, the president was in United Nations when he met the captains of American industry.