The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to digitizing the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.
This assurance comes after a previous, unsuccessful attempt by former Minister Lai Mohammed to secure a $500 million loan for the same purpose. The NTA has long struggled with limited funding and declining advertising revenue, which have significantly affected its operations.
Minister Promises Support for NTA Upgrade
During a working visit to NTA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Idris praised the station’s progress but emphasized that more needs to be done. He said the visit was to understand the station’s ongoing challenges firsthand and reaffirmed his dedication to securing the necessary resources to modernize the platform.
“I’m impressed with the digital upgrades, studio quality, and movie production capabilities,” Idris said. “NTA has made significant progress, but its full potential is yet to be realized. I want to see NTA match global standards and become a benchmark for other TV stations in Nigeria. I will work to mobilize the resources needed to achieve this.”
NTA Highlights Operational Challenges
Speaking during the visit, NTA’s Director-General, Salihu Abdulhamid-Dembos, acknowledged the Minister’s vital role in ensuring accurate and timely communication to the Nigerian public. However, he pointed out several obstacles facing the organization, including:
- Insufficient funding
- Inadequate infrastructure
- Increased competition
- Decreased advertising income
- Lagging technological upgrades
He stressed the importance of government collaboration to address these issues and reaffirmed NTA’s commitment to upholding high standards in journalism and broadcasting, while promoting national unity and accurate information dissemination.
Recent Achievements and International Reach
Despite its challenges, NTA has made notable progress, including:
- Implementing modern management systems
- Providing staff training
- Upgrading broadcast equipment for better signal quality
- Establishing international bureaus in the UK, USA, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa
- Leveraging social media and online platforms for real-time news delivery
Background: Unfulfilled Loan Proposal
In 2020, former Minister Lai Mohammed proposed a $500 million loan from the China Export-Import Bank to transform NTA into a globally competitive broadcaster, comparable to CNN. He presented this proposal to the Senate, emphasizing that the loan would support:
- NTA digitization
- Construction of a new headquarters and transmission network for Integrated Television Services (a key Digital Switch Over component)
- Development of a modern Media City in Ikorodu
By March last year, Mohammed was still appealing to Chinese authorities to accelerate the approval of the loan. However, no progress was made before the administration’s tenure ended in May 2023.
The renewed commitment by Minister Idris brings fresh hope for NTA’s long-awaited transformation, as the station seeks to overcome financial setbacks and embrace full-scale digitization.
