Nigeria: Set-Top Box Manufacturers Warn of 'Broadcasting Crisis' Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Association of Licensed Set-Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN) has sounded a grave alarm, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and halt the National Broadcasting Commission's (NBC) current approach to digital broadcasting migration. STBMAN contends that the NBC's plan is not only unilateral and rushed but also deviates significantly from the established 2012 Digital Switchover (DSO) White Paper, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of the upcoming 2027 general elections.

At the heart of STBMAN's concern is the perceived misrepresentation of the current initiative as a true Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) migration. The association argues that what is being presented is merely an aggregation of channels on NigComSat platforms, falling short of the comprehensive national DSO framework. This, they warn, could lead to widespread confusion, unequal access to information, and significant disruptions during the critical election period, thereby eroding public trust in the electoral process and the broadcasting sector.

STBMAN's appeal to the President highlights a critical juncture for Nigeria's broadcasting landscape. The association emphasizes the vital role of free-to-air broadcasting for information dissemination, civic education, and election coverage, particularly for millions of Nigerians. By calling for an urgent national stakeholders' roundtable, an independent review, and public sensitization, STBMAN seeks to ensure that the digital migration is transparent, inclusive, lawful, and technically sound. Failure to heed these warnings, they caution, risks weakening democratic communication structures, wasting public resources, and undermining national cohesion ahead of a pivotal election year.

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Mr. President, Nigeria cannot afford confusion in its broadcasting system at a time the nation is preparing for ano