N8.2 Billion NTA U-17 World Cup Scandal

Editorial Jul 28, 2009
THE Federal Executive Council approval of  N8.2 billion for the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA,  to meet standards for hosting the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Nigeria, which is only three months away, is a scandal in the works.

Government’s decision  has raised many questions.
The House of Representatives Committee on Information had reminded the Ministry of Information and Communication that the budget has no provision for the N8.2 billion that would be applied to converting NTA’s standard definition equipment to high definition, but the Ministry is determined to continue with the dubious move that would waste tax payers’ money.
The Federal Government spent more than $28 million in upgrading the same equipment for the All Africa Games six years ago.
The new contract would merely fit new equipment into the carcass of outside broadcasting vans and other equipment that are bowing to changes in technology. It is an expensive and avoidable waste.
Equally alarming is the fact that the main supplier of the equipment told the Ministry that standard definition television, SDTV, cannot be upgraded to high definition television, HDTV, because of differences in the technologies.
The Ministry ignored this advice for obvious reasons.
Part of the reason is that this contract is time bound. It is tied to the hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Without the FIFA event, the proponents of this scandal cannot have any basis for telling government to incur this type of expenditure.
Those who are deceiving the Federal Government know that new equipment cannot be built and installed for NTA between now and the competition.
They opted for renovation of existing equipment in order to save time. The move also creates the impression that they are prudent managers of resources, who are willing to improve existing facilities rather than buy new ones. This is another farce.
One of the two companies the Ministry of Information and Communication claims would do the upgrading, had advised NTA to buy new equipment at a cost that is 20 per cent lower than that for renovation. Its technical advice was that the upgrading from SDTV to HDTV was not technologically practicable. The Ministry is continuing with the venture into which it would sink N8.2 billion.
There are more reasons to call on government to look at this contract again. Last September, South Africa bought brand new equipment, of far superior quality and quantity for the 2009 Confederation Cup and the 2010 World Cup at N6.7 billion from the same supplier that would renovate NTA equipment.
Why would renovation of outdated equipment be more expensive than buying new and superior equipment with warranties?
Government’s preaching about financial discipline must start making sense. At a time of economic slump, and with many issues contending for the slimming national purse, it is an unacceptable waste for government to plough diminishing resources into renovation of outdated equipment.
It is worse t
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na wa o, Dora whats happening? you go wound o,

In Nigerian situation coupled with the preference of a government that can not differentiate between its right and left hands, renovation at a higher cost is better and far more preferable to buying a new and superior equipment. By the way, if this is not done, how would the thieves in power line their pockets? Lets not forget that lining their pockets ranks higher in priority than getting a world standard equipment.

Its only in Nigeria that SDTV would be renovated to HDTV.

See it as part of The Re-branding Shit!

When they can procure new equipments @ cheaper cost, they prefer to do wat professionals tagged impossible.

Hw do u want to upgrade Video Cassette Player to a DVD player. This is pathetic.

my broda, we don observe years already

HDTV is of a higher grade. By definition SDTV means Standard Definition Television while HDTV is High Definition Television

so why dont we line these criminals up and shot them through the heads (as its done in china) and made their families to pay the govt for the wasted bullets.what type of a country is this for the love of mike!. and who the hell is the minister responsible for this mess? its a crying shame and the world is watching.

the day we get to know that Mama Dora have a hidden agenda in the Federal Ministry of Communication, the better it will be for every one concern. If she can't have NCC (Nigerian Communication Commission) and she will take NTA.

there is nothing that can be done or any kind of transaction done (no matter how little) that does not have cheating in it. even if you buy 1 cigarette, there is a cheating in it. the whole country is infested with cheats. the name should be changed from nigeria to cheatria. i'm ashamed to claim i'm nigerian.

Correct yarns.

I disagree you fit shoot the small errand boys we no get immunity. Then them no go get anybodyto send thief for them again.

Can Nigeria be delivered from corruption? NO because as we are trying to control one fire another is being ignited from 1960 till date. I think we should start praying for ourselves and stop wasting our time praying for Nigeria cos the Nation called Nigeria is Cursed.

To strategize on the next avenue to steal. Their brain is filled with one thing to steal!  Steal!!! Steal!!! public fund.

 

A case of a priest about to be ordained on Monday, and as at the preceding Saturday, he hasn't even heard of ST. John's gospel!

Ha ha ha ha!

This our govt; everyday we get something new and unheard of!

I can't stop laughing after reading most comments here but it's true the Govt. has failed in terms of fighting against corruption, anyway sha thank God for democracy.

hahhaa