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• Claims Could Threaten Meeting Deadline
Ahead of the June deadline for Digital Switch Over (DSO), Set Top Boxes (STBs) manufacturers have decried the high rate of foreign exchange and poor power supply in the country, which they claimed could threaten Nigeria’s aspiration to meet the deadline.
Briefing newsmen in Calabar after the visit of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Digital Switch Over (DSO) to the Calabar Free Trade Zone, the Group Managing Director, Gospell Digital, Sir Godfrey Ohuabuma said: “We have three major challenges. One is foreign exchange. Most of the parts we use are imported, especially the chips, though we produce some parts like the boxes, containers.
“The second problem is power. We run generator from morning till evening. Thirdly, we require some waivers on custom duties. By rule, we are supposed to enjoy pioneer status and not pay taxes, because this is the first time this is happening in Nigeria, yet we are made to pay all kinds of tariff. The major challenge however is foreign exchange.
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