FG eyes $1bn from sale of broadcasting spectrum

• Digital economy to grow by $1bn, says Lai Mohammed
• Six arrested as NCC mops up unregistered SIM cards

The Federal Government has the capacity to raise a digital dividend of $1 billion from the sale of spectrum emanating from the Digital Switch Over (DSO) from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

Also, the digital economy is expected to grow by $1 billion on a yearly basis through increases in advertising, Nollywood income, and value added services.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at the opening of the 11th edition of the International Conference for African Broadcasters, organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), yesterday, launched a crackdown on sellers of unregistered SIM cards in Kano. Six persons were handed over to the police for investigation.

“We want to get those that are involved, so that we can have a thorough investigation. It is a criminal offence to use SIM cards without proper registration. All new cards must be personally registered. We have to mop up all unregistered cards in our markets,” said Salisu Abdu, head of the Commission’s enforcement unit.

Mohammed noted that digitisation of the technology of broadcasting is rapidly changing the industry and offering fresh opportunities. It offers Nigeria a lot of opportunities in the areas of economics, politics, education, entertainment, science and technology, he said.

“Many have said that the impact of digitisation on television will be revolutionary and I cannot agree less. With digitisation, the TV industry in Nigeria will be able to raise over $I billion in one year.”