By GODWIN APEH

Very reliable sources within the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have confirmed the alleged payment of N2.5b to Pinnacle Communications Limited owned by Mr. Lucky Omoluwa, who is one of the three licensed signal distributors. The payment which was done two weeks ago has been kept secret, and apparently was done without proper due process, and only with the alleged approval of the Hon Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who apparently according to financial rules has no authority to approve payments exceeding 50m.



Whilst the digital television switch over project appears to be in limbo, It appears that the focus of the current NBC leadership is how to share the money that was raised by the former DG of the NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, who ironically is facing criminal charges for the legitimate he adopted in raising the money for the DSO, despite seemingly securing all requisite board, ministerial and presidential approvals.



Going by reliable insiders information available to us, the current DG, Mallam Is’haq Modibo Kawu and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were alleged to have secretly approved N2.5 Billion to be paid to Pinnacle Communications Limited, owned by Abuja businessman Sir Lucky Omoluwa.



Pinnacle Communication won the bid for the second signal distribution license in 2014 and is currently operating that license as one of the three licensed broadcast signal distributors who are to provide the technical infrastructure services that will be used to distribute digital terrestrial television signals across the country.



Whilst the NBC is yet to set appropriate rules and conditions with regards to carriage of licensed TV channels on the infrastructure of the signal carriers, such as carriage rates and geographical coverage areas, as well the thorny issue of conflicts over areas of operation, since all three Broadcast Signal companies have the same license to operate across the country.



The commission allegedly went ahead to secretly and very curiously pay Pinnacle Communications, a licensed private operator, the sum of N2.5b.



According to reliable sources, the decision to pay Pinnacle Communications was based on the mistaken belief that since NTA own signal distribution company ITS was given a grant of N1.5b by the previous management, Pinnacle should also be paid even though it is a privately owned company which during its licensing bid confirmed its financial capability to roll out operations across the country. It is rather curious now, how such a company is being paid monies that should otherwise be used to finance the DSO roll out, which once again failed to meet today’s June 17, 2017 deadline.



However, ITS (the first Broadcast signal distributor which is an offshoot of NTA) was specifically carved out by the government to serve as the government owned signal distributor given the strategic importance of broadcasting to national security interests, and the funds allocated to it by the former DG was government’s share of the financial burden needed as take off grant for signal distributor; and formed part of the larger DSO budget which was vetted and approved by the former president.



In this case, it is understood that the approval for the payment allegedly came from the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari.



Interestingly, the current DG’s appointment was allegedly facilitated by the boss of Pinnnacle Communications Limited, Lucky Omoluwa and the Chief of Staff.





-Some nagging questions begging for answers in the wake of the nation’s failed DSO

How a private company that is a licensee of the NBC is receiving N2.5 Billion from government remains extremely curious and unclear.



As a licensee, Pinnacle Communications is supposed to pay the NBC license fees and other regulatory charges and certainly not be paid by government for any reason.



What justification can exist for giving N2.5 Billion to a company that competed in a licensing round, got its initial N2 Billion license fee reduced by the former DG to N600 Million for a 15 year license on grounds that the winner would have significant roll out obligations?



Why is this same company receiving 2.5 Billion from the Government, and in secret? How was the sum of N2.5 Billion computed, based on what parameters, and for what purpose?



What happens to the other signal distributor MTS which ostensibly is owned by the entire licensed private and state owned broadcasters under the auspices of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) currently chaired by Chief John Momoh.



Will they also be getting N2.5billion? Most importantly, why is the process top secret even within the NBC management.



Pinnacle Communications made technical and financial undertakings to deploy infrastructure to run DSO and it was upon the basis of those undertakings that it was screened, evaluated and approved to be granted the license as a broadcast signal distributor in the first place!



And in the second place, his license fee was reduced from N2b to mere 600m for a 15 year license to support his network deployment.



Having being paid N2.5b by government now, Pinnacle can be seen to have made fraudulent and false undertakings in its license application process with the consequence that the license is now revocable; and secondly the licensee has evidently defrauded the government twice: first getting an unmerited discounted license fee based on fraudulent claims, and now being extended huge amount of money with no justification or merit.



-Failure of DSO and double speaking at the NBC

Only weeks ago, the NBC DG announced at the recently concluded Nigerian Broadcasting Code Review in Kano, that the June 2017 Digital Switch Over (DSO) deadline was sacrosanct and that the Commission is committed to meeting the deadline. Now in June, the same commission is announcing its inability to meet the deadline which it said it would weeks ago. Even to the most casual observer that statement is in league with a Trumpian dystopia.



For starters, the Commission with so much fanfare launched the Abuja leg of the switch over, last November. At an elaborate occasion which the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo represented the President. Since that date, very little has been heard of the exercise.



The public is in limbo about the process so far. How many boxes have been switched on? What is the extent of the digital penetration? What are the number of new channels and services now available to viewers? How much is a set top box sold? And if there are consumer complaints, where or to whom are they to be addressed? Is there a DSO Help Line?

Role of Pinnacle Communications Limited and other Broadcast Signal Distributors (BSD)



Since the re launch of the Jos pilot in April 2016, the Commission has yet to present a report of the pilot. The standard practice is that after a pilot period the result of the exercise is made known and examined.



The success of any DSO rests on four critical pillars:

Content: where are the new digital TV channels? No new digital television channels are on the service. Independent content producers who had looked forward to the DSO as a platform to launch new services are now confused at the current state of affairs. Without the addition of new channels on the digital free to air platform the adoption of digital would be impacted, since viewers would be reluctant to buy set top boxes to view the same channels they already getting for free to air. Besides it lack of access for new channels would also seriously impact fresh investment in the broadcasting industry.
Set top boxes: The NBC DG recently announced that the commission had spent a whopping $26m on set top boxes. It was however not able to say how many of these boxes have been activated, where and when. No current estimate on the actual digital penetration even in the cities where the Commission launched its “pilot” dso project.
How many boxes have been sold and activated so far? Are boxes still being imported or now manufactured locally? What is the ratio of foreign and local boxes? And for how much are they sold?



Signal distribution: it is clear at this time, that the Commission has failed or is unable to agree on the critical issues which should underpin a successful DSO with regards to role of broadcast signal distributors. For instance, no known digital coverage targets or obligations have been agreed on; neither the NBC nor the BSDs know the true cost of national or regional roll outs. No agreement on direct or cross subsidy for carriage fees. In other words, it is important to know the cost of roll out, and establish base line for charges to content owners. Again, no one is clear about the current digital terrestrial signal reach and penetration, or the allocation of broadcast spectrum to DTT (pre- and post-ASO), and to free vs pay use.


Public awareness: Sine the launch of the DSO in Jos and Abuja, there is still no high-profile communications campaign led to educate Nigerian consumers on the advantages of digital television. Large swaths of the country remain clueless about what DSO is about, and how it impacts them.
For example, a national program as important as this has no website that can educate members of the public on what to do, or what to expect. Even the NBC website has very little information on the status of the DSO, and how members of the public can get digital TV services where they live.



Also important is the fact that the legal framework for the DSO is still murky. In other climes, there is usually a legal framework enacted by parliament on which the digital transition is based on. In practical purposed what this means is that content owners who wish to establish new TV channels are unaware of the licensing framework. Whilst the recent Code review would have presented a fresh opportunity to present new regulations and draft digital licensing law, this was squandered. With this level of uncertainty, it would mean very low confidence for new investment in the digital broadcasting ecosystem. Not clear how the new digital platform operates or channel application and licensing processes. Even with the launch of the digital free to air platform Freetv, the commission hasn’t set known guidelines for the operation of the platform, access to capacity for existing and new channels; governance and operating structure, financial relationships, marketing, technology, etc.)


Lack of direction



It appears that the Commission has no defined holistic approach towards the digital switchover which would ensure all the objectives for Nigeria’s digital broadcasting ecology are met. DSO requires broadcasters to invest in new services, signal distributors to invest in transmission infrastructure and manufacturers to invest in a high volume of STBs. To deliver these commitments, stakeholders will need clear and sustainable benefits (such as exclusivity, access to spectrum). These should be measurable and clearly understood by all stakeholders. the NBC appears unable to articulate the DSO roadmap, no one within the industry has a clear view of where the DSO is headed, and when it would arrive at its destination.

The payment to Pinnacle Communications, without basis or justification and in secret, is clear evidence that the DSO is seen by some as an opportunity to line their pockets rather than deliver the promise of digital to Nigerians.


http://www.daylight.ng/insiders-reveal-how-nbc-paid-pinnacle-communications-n2-5b-in-secret-dso-deal-why-nigeria-failed-june-17-deadline-again/

Truth is constant and no amount of lies and propaganda can hide it.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan's name will always be written in Gold, in spite of APC Govt's desperate attempts at ridiculing his legacies.



PS: I am back

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- He/She must possess own laptop with adequate video-editing software.
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- Can provide available show reel of at least two previous projects.
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- Knowledge of Igbo language a HUGE plus (but not compulsory).

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FYI, GEJ started this project #ProudWailer

LOL

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LOL...the real begging never start.

Abegi,
BUHARI/APC should just shut-up and commence investigations; they should name those found culpable and prosecute them.

GEJ and most of his Ex-ministers are still in Nigeria, they travel in and out of the country at will and have since dared Buhari to commence his so-called probe.

So Please, enough of the media trials, Get to work, Baba go slow.

gebest:
truly speaking northerners did ve beautiful girls call it fulani, hausa or whatever dey are as beautiful as arap girls, followed by the igbos, dey are really a beauty to behold, yoruba girls i dont kn were dey got their ugliness from, maybe is their culture to be ulgly, even d lagos u mentioned any fine girl there is a stranger either from d east or south infact igbo are mush in lagos than many other state, so many of the beautiful girls in lagos are igbo i rest my case for now.

LoooooooooooL

THEY HAVE KILLED ALL MY ELEPHANTS IN YANKARI OOO...JESUS

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Send CV and possibly with a 60 seconds Voice Recording clip to firewoodmedia@gmail.com

You may also send your voice recording clip via Whatsapp to 234-8038834546 (WhatsApp ONLY)

Expecting you.

Here's my reply to this thread that made Front Page earlier today:
https://www.nairaland.com/2445302/things-noticed-since-pmb-assumed

I hope my response makes FP too.


DID YOU NOTICE THIS AMAZING SCENARIO?

Without Power minister:
- Electricity supply has greatly improved

Reply: Perhaps those people that vandalized PHCN equipments have decided to 'cool down' since GEJ is no more there. However, MANY more areas remain without power.

Without Petroleum minister:
- refineries are almost fully revamped, to commence production within a month.

Reply: Contract for, and commencement of Turnaround Maintenance of our refineries was issued by GEJ in 2013. Buhari doesn't even have a Petroleum minister, so cannot claim ANYTHING from presumed resumption of NNPC refineries. Or are you saying TAM on our refineries started on May 29th, 2015?

- Disappearance of fuel queues without oil marketers holding country to ransom.

Reply: Fuel queues still exist in MOST filling stations selling at N87 while those selling for N120 and above are without queues. However during GEJ's 5-year rule, MOST Nigerians forgot what it felt like to sleep in Petrol stations except when there was Oil marketers strike.

- Stoppage of phantom fuel subsidy payments to the cabal, & reducing it from over N5b to N1.8b per day

Reply: During GEJ's period, Buhari said that there was no subsidy, can you reduce something that does not even exist?

Without Finance minister:
- External reserves increased by $3b in a month.

Reply: External reserves have risen because Buhari's government is yet to take-off and allocations to several ministries for capital projects have not been made. 2015 Budget has not even commenced partial implementation, hence most Crude Oil monies earned by Nigeria since May 29th are being forwarded to reserves.

- Bailout to states to clear 8 months salary arrears.

Reply: After States are bailed out , what next? President Buhari told the world that GEJ left empty treasury, where did he find money to bail out states. Na you give am?

- Closure of all secret govt accounts.

Reply: Please mention the secret govt accounts and tell us how it is a secret.

- Maintenance of a single Federation Account for all FG revenues.

Reply: No such move has been made, where is the Finance Minister to execute such a directive? You lie.

Without External Affairs minister:
- Secured multilateral cooperation of all neighbouring countries for a MJTF against Boko Haram.

Reply: MJTF was created under GEJ. Also, Buhari once said it was a shame that Nigeria's neighbors were helping us fight Boko Haram. Elrufai even accused GEJ of visiting Chad to plan more Boko Haram attacks. So, what are you saying?

- G7 cooperation and support in fight against insurgents.

Reply: Same G7 that refused to sell arms to Nigeria under GEJ? Okay, since Buhari's visit to G7 summit has Boko Haram not killed over 400 Nigerians?

Without Commerce & Trade minister:

- Concluded package to revamp local industries.

Reply: What package? If any such package exists it will be executed by Bank Of Industry. Did Buhari establish Nigeria's Bank of Industry?

-Again a marching order for the resuscitation of our dead Textile Industries was given.

Reply: Textile Industries or any industry for that matter don't operate with marching orders, they need investments, infrastructure and a market to sell their products.

All in barely a month!

l'm delighted about the prospect, when PMB would have touched all sectors of our national life.

...A NEW SHERIFF IS IN TOWN!...

● Former Imo State Governor Ohakim granted N270million bail for N270million fraud as in return the EXACT money you stole shikena!

● Lamido Ex Nig. Foreign minister and Ex-Jigawa Gov. and sons remanded in Prison

● Ex-Adamawa Gov. Nyako and son remanded in Prison

● Companies linked to Nnamani Ex-Enugu Gov. Loose assets to FG

And so on and so forth. Ah Ah PMB, na only you waka come?

Reply: Even Tinubu was arraigned under GEJ, so kini big deal?; please celebrate only when there is a conviction

The days of "Goat-Eat-Yam-And-Go-Free" are over! Watch out for more... ‪#‎Change‬ is really here!

~Jack Obinyan-Buhari 09/07/2015


CONCLUSION: Perhaps it's too early to judge President Buhari's performance, BUT blind propaganda at this early stage is equally ridiculous.


PS: I request that this be put on Front Page.

I'm guessing TAN also caused the Oyo empire, Afonja and Fulani bruhaha which eventually led to Yorubaland's loss of Ilorin?

Clerverly:
In Lagos APC leads PDP by a margin greater than 10% in all but 3 LGAs: Amuwo Odofin, Oshodi Isolo and Ajeromi Ifelodin!

Confirmed

LIES OOOOOOOOOO

I read this and it sums up most of my thoughts and reasons for supporting GEJ.

http://mrstanleynwabia..com/2015/03/march-28-final-case-for-goodluck.html

March 28: Final Case For Goodluck Jonathan And The Rejection Of Buhari.

Early last month during the ‪#‎FeBuhari fiasco, a lot of people where psychologically bullied by the Social Media into joining the Buhari "Change" Train. Online polls created where few individuals with Multiple IP addresses voted, hacked...and voted some more in favour of Buhari.

Quite a number of Nigerians in diaspora (without PVCs) joined the bandwagon, hurriedly sharing ANY propaganda material by the opposition on their TimeLines and proclaiming it as FACT. I guess being a home-sick diasporan and desperately trying to be part of a national process where your input is totally insignificant can do that to a person. (Not making direct reference to anyone o, biko nu!)

The postponement of the Elections from Feb 14th to March 28th has been a huge blessing for the PDP and its candidate President Goodluck Jonathan, many eyes have opened. Several politicians have retraced their steps back into its fold.

Sadly though, many vulnerable minds (blinded by 'hate', covert bigotry or unknown personal frustrations) remain on this fraudulent "Change" train being midwifed by the living deity of Bourdillon-Ikoyi (second only to Sango). A "Change" train supposedly captained by a 73-year old senile, semi-illiterate and Ex-dictator. A lot of Nigerians genuinely love Buhari but most of them for VERY wrong reasons, best known to them.

- Anyone expecting (fictional) President Buhari in a democratic Nigeria to arrest and throw corrupt people into jail at will, is on a long thing.

- Anyone believing that a (fictional) democratic President Buhari will automatically force our legislators to reduce their bogus allowances, is playing with madness.

- I believe Electricity is still horrible in Nigeria BUT I also believe in Jonathan's PRIVATIZATION programme in the Power sector.

- I believe there's still hunger in Nigeria BUT I believe in Jonathan's Agricultural/Economic policies that
have kept inflation low and food prices stable in spite of drop in oil price and compulsory devaluation of the Naira.

- I believe there's still massive unemployment in Nigeria BUT I also believe that the Nigerian Economy has thoroughly expanded making millionaires out of YOUNG bloggers, artistes, fashion designers, farmers, comedians, photographers, wedding planners, dancers, writers etc...many with no direct or indirect ties to corrupt politicians

- I believe that Jonathan's war on terror was not too impressive from the start BUT I also believe that most Nigerians living in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Enugu or Port Harcourt do not go to bed at night fearing that Abubakar Shekau will announce a new government on NTA by morning. Thanks to our gallant armed-forces.

In a nutshell, Nigeria is VERY FAR from the promised land but I believe in the foundations that have been laid by Jonathan and previous PDP governments (Obasanjo and Yaradua).

National development/Nation building will ALWAYS be a 'work in progress'.

God bless Nigeria.

Vote for TRANSFORMATION

Vote for GOODLUCK JONATHAN

http://mrstanleynwabia..com/2015/03/march-28-final-case-for-goodluck.html

Great...only criminals endorse and fund Buhari's candidature.

emeka2847:
PDP too like violence jor

You CAN'T be serious.

LOL...as usual, an APC goon created this thread and flooded front page with pro-APC comments backed up by their 'LIKES' crew.
TEAM GEJ destroyed TEAM GMB...if you think i'm lying please watch the video.

Unless we choose to decieve ourselves (like we always do in Nigeria), most APC supporters in Lagos have always been aware of ALL the revelations made by AIT's documentary on Tinubu. In spite of this, Tinubu remains APC's leader and together they point accusing fingers at GEJ accusing him of corruption.

For many months, APC led the jury that condemned Jonathan's govt for allegedly stealing $20b, an audit was carried out and GEJ's govt has been vindicated. No more word from APC on that, and still no apologies.

Tinubu's core supporters just like Buhari's will not be moved by AIT damning revelations. Yes, many liberals amongst them will re-think their loyality to Asiwaju (and APC) but a lot more will stay put.

This is the sad reality of our democracy, I dare say it is an African problem, look at Mugabe's reign in Zimbabwe for example.

Many Lagosians argue that regardless of allegations over Tinubu/APC's corrupt nature, Lagos has witnessed 'progress'.

What progress?

- In 1999, the military handed over a Lagos to Tinubu where pipe borne water was supplied to many residential areas. The Lagos State Water Coporation even provided PUBLIC TAPS for poor residents that could not afford its services. Today, most Lagos residents even in affluent neighbourhoods get their water from private bore-holes, church/mosque compounds or local mallams, 'mairuwa'.

- Roads: MOST state-owned Lagos roads cannot survive one rainy season in one piece.

- Eko-Atlantic: The money spent on sand-filling Eko Atlantic alone is enough to completely modernize Lagos towns like Badagry or Ikorodu but Tinubu feels otherwise.

- How about the Lagos monorail scheduled for phase 1 completion in 2013 but has now become a white Elephant project just like it's counter-part in APC's Rivers state.

The truth is that Lagos state has suffered immensely from Tinubu's high-handedness, but if the people of Lagos don't see it that way, let's all encourage Tinubu to carry on.

Afterall, it's his Lagos. "Eko oni baje o"

This story is currently trending. Yes, it is against APC, is that why NL has refused to move it to FP?
https://www.nairaland.com/2163457/fayose-visits-venue-buharis-so-called

One of APC's numerous lies about Buhari's London visit was that he attended an interview with Kemi Fadojutimi's 'All Eyes on Africa TV Show.'
APC's media team of bloggers shared the following pictures to prove their point,


A pro-APC blog presents the News as thus - http://www.ent-redefined.org/buhari-interviewed-in-london-earlier-today-photos/

Fellow Nigerians, we've come to realize that the said inteview was actually recorded weeks at the King's Ambassadors suite at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. Kemi Fadojutimi had visited Nigera earlier.

Here are pictures of Transcorp Hiltons King's Ambassador suites. Compare.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2147409_image_jpeg9f360c5ab7736510df54c882e9dbf188

Read more here:[url] http://www.omogist.com/archives/19609[/url]

The Killer Punch here is: If Buhari was actually doing that interview in London, what a Aquafina Bottled Water doing on his table? Was it imported from Nigeria? Bottled water no dey London again?

interesting stuff

missjenna:

Excuse me

You are excused.

missjenna:
Everything is just propaganda
SHM

When Boko haram kills Nigerians, APC celebrates it as FACT.
When Nigerian army kills Boko Haram, it is propaganda?

Abeg as you dey SMH, make ur head just fall komot.

Rubbish.

At this rate most APC and Buhari supporters will be admitted into hospital before March 28th.

...and Buhari's BP has just gone up at his UK hospital.

***in my Portuguese tongue*** I hereby declare SAI BUHARI all the way.

Check it out yourself: http://dictionary.imtranslator.net/more-translations/portuguese-english/sai/