STB Makers Cry Out, Allege Lawlessness, Threaten Court Action

STB Makers Cry Out, Allege Lawlessness, Threaten Court Action

The Digital Switch Over (DSO) crisis has exploded again as Set Top Box (STB) manufacturers took a swipe at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), accusing it of recklessness, policy somersaults and disregard for court orders.

The Association of Licensed Set Top Box Manufacturers of Nigeria (STBMAN), in a statement by its Chairman, Sir Godfrey N. Ohuabunwa, warned that Nigeria’s 17-year-old DSO project is fast becoming a “national disgrace.”

The group said despite years of promises, Nigeria is still crawling while other countries have raced ahead even those that once looked up to Nigeria for direction.

STBMAN, aligning partly with concerns raised by the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN), said the NBC has continued to ignore stakeholders and the Federal Government’s White Paper guiding the DSO rollout.

The manufacturers insisted that:
Local industries must be protected under President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy;
The DSO roadmap must not be distorted; The rule of law must be respected to save investor confidence.

But in a stinging allegation, the group accused the NBC of taking steps capable of rendering a valid court order useless.

“No authority is above the law. A subsisting court order must be obeyed,” STBMAN declared.

The association also knocked alleged moves to import hybrid set-top boxes from China, describing it as a betrayal of local investors and a direct slap on government policy.

“Why import what Nigerians can produce?” the group queried.

Calling for urgent presidential intervention, STBMAN urged President Tinubu to immediately halt any licensing or importation process until the court delivers its final judgment.

It warned that failure to act may force the association to slam the NBC and its top officials with contempt proceedings.