Ict/Telecom
200,000 Nigerians To Benefit From DSO Pilot Scheme – Minister
L-R: President,Computer Professionals Registration Council, Prof. Vincent Asor, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and Representative of the Vice President, Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, at the 2016 Cyber Security Threats and Countermeasures in Abuja on Wednesday.
No fewer than 200,000
average Nigerians will have access to at least 15 free-to-air television channels from April 30 launch of the pilot scheme of Digital Switch On (DSO) in Jos.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this recently in Jos when he paid a visit to Plateau Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden.
The Tide source reports that the minister was accompanied on the visit by members of the Ministerial Task Force for attainment of the pilot scheme and the June 2017 deadline for switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Mohammed, who assured that his team was prepared for the pilot scheme, said that from the take off date in Jos, those who could not afford digital cable like DSTV and Startimes would have access to at least 15 free channels.
The 15 free channels according to the minister, included, African Movie Net, CNBC Africa, NTA, Channels Television and AIT.
He said that the government was also prepared to give free set -top boxes (STB) to the beneficiaries of the pilot scheme.
“`By April 30, the 200,000 targeted viewers in Jos alone will be able to get their set-top boxes which will be fixed to their television sets.
“When they switch on the television from that date they will be able to view, free of charge, 15 channels as opposed to the four that they see today.
“I am not talking about those who have and can afford cables, but about the average Jos man who relies on the terrestrial television,” he said.
The minister solicited the support of the state government towards equitable distribution of the free boxes stressing that it should not be based on partisanship.
According to him, the programme is for every Nigerian and not members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alone.
“We want to ensure seamless distribution of the set up boxes.
“Because it is a pilot scheme, we have a limited number of the boxes, at least 200,000, which we are going to give free to viewers in Jos.
“We want the boxes to reach those who actually deserve them, that is, the common man who has a television set and who in exchange for the box will give us data in planning for the eventual mapping and digitisation of the state.
“In the distribution, we are not dealing with APC alone, we are dealing with everybody in Jos irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
The minister said that the switch on would provide job opportunities for talented young men, particularly those who would be providing content applications.
He said it would also make it easier and more comfortable for artists to relate their compositions straight to digital platform.
Mohammed reiterated that the issue of going digital was not a matter of choice because the ITU, a UN specialised body for ICT, had given deadline of June 2017 for the country.
He said failure to meet with the deadline would mean a violation of international treaty while the nation’s broadcast system would also be at the mercy of interference.
The deputy governor thanked the federal government for choosing the state for the pilot scheme and. assured their co-operations.
He said the digital switch on was a monumental development in the broadcast industry that would reduce class gap and ensure equal access to information.
Tyoden said the state would set up a task force, to be headed by the Commissioner for Information, on the equitable distribution of the boxes and other developments.
The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Company Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, said Bonga, Nigeria’s first deep-water asset, has recorded major milestones, due to effective leadership, cutting-edge technology, continuous improvement and collaboration with stakeholders.
She noted that since coming on stream in November 2005, Bonga has maintained a track record of production that saw it achieve one-billion-barrel export on February 13, last year.
In her presentation, titled “The Bonga Journey to a Billion Barrels”, at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States, Aiboni, said: “SNEPCo is grateful for the contributions of all the parties to the Bonga story and we can all be proud of the milestones.
“Bonga has been consistent. In 2014, nine years after coming onstream, it achieved half a billion barrels of crude and doubled it in 2023. We have worked relentlessly to ensure excellent asset management, project and wells delivery and deployment of technology and innovations in our operations”.
According to her, these factors, “coupled with the supportive partnership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and our co-venturers – TotalEnergies, EP Nigeria Limited; Nigerian Agip Exploration; and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, make Bonga stand out as a world-class investment case”.
She continued that, “SNEPCo also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the success of Bonga operations”.
Aiboni also listed the challenges of keeping the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel full as the asset ages and dealing with unexpected developments with subsea wells and equipment.
She said: “SNEPCo responded with a campaign of operational excellence, which among other initiatives, led to the creation of a programme known as the Bonga Business Improvement Plan that continually reviews and identifies improvement initiatives and drives sustainability in operations and upskilling of staff.
“The Bonga success story has been led by Nigerians who have been managing directors of SNEPCo since it was established in 1993, in a deliberate policy by Shell to develop indigenous manpower for deep-water operations in Nigeria.
“Today, some 97percent of the SNEPCo workforce is Nigerian and overall, Bonga has helped to create a new generation of Nigerian deep-water professionals.
“Our vision at SNEPCo remains to be the best deep-water business, powering growth and achieving net zero emissions in line with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy”.
Banks’ borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fell month-on-month, (MoM) by 44 percent to N12.16 trillion in April from N21.7 trillion in March.
Analysis of latest data from the CBN shows that the 44percent drop represents the first MoM decline in banks borrowing from since January when it increased by 268.7 percent to N3.6 trillion from N976.29 billion in December 2023.
However, further analysis showed that banks’ deposits in the CBN SDF grew MoM by 118.4 percent to N428.97 billion in April from N196.37 billion in March 2024.
Banks make use of the SLF to access liquidity to run their day-to-day business operations while the Standing Deposit Facility window (SDF) on the other hand, is an overnight deposit facility that allows banks to lodge excess liquidity (money) with the CBN and earn interest.
The decline in banks’ borrowing from SLF may reflect an increase in banking system liquidity and also the decision of the apex bank last year to remove the limit on the remunerable daily placements by banks at the SDF.
According to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN removed the cap on the remunerable SDF to increase activity in the SDF window and manage liquidity.
A Financial technology expert, Olatunji Akinrinola, has highlighted the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, which according to him, was driven by technological advancements.
Akinrinola made this assertion in a press release recently, where he stressed that the role of technology in driving this exponential growth in the FinTech sector was very outstanding.
According to him, Technology has revolutionised the way financial services are delivered, making them more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
“Through innovations such as mobile banking, digital payments, and blockchain technology, FinTech companies have been able to reach a larger population and provided them with access to financial services”, he stated.
Akinrinola emphasised the role of technology in enabling financial inclusion, adding: “Technology has democratised access to financial services, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
“Mobile money platforms and digital wallets have empowered individuals to conduct financial transactions conveniently and securely, without the need for traditional banking services”.
He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in driving innovation within the FinTech industry, noting: “AI-powered algorithms and predictive analytics have revolutionised risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer personalisation in financial services.
“These technologies enable FinTech companies to provide tailored solutions and mitigate risks more effectively, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience”.
Akinrinola stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering the growth of the FinTech industry.
“While technology has accelerated the growth of FinTech, it is essential to establish robust regulatory frameworks to ensure consumer protection and maintain market stability. Regulators play a crucial role in balancing innovation with risk management, thereby creating a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the FinTech sector”, he stated.
Akinrinola underscored the role of technology in driving the exponential growth of the FinTech industry, saying, “Technology has been a game-changer for the FinTech sector, enabling innovation, expanding access to financial services, and driving economic growth.
“As technology continues to evolve, the FinTech industry will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of financial services ecosystem”.
Corlins Walter
