Plans are in top gear to rubbish the soaring image of the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu whose profile has been on the rise on account of his role in ensuring the smooth migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria.
In the said fake news been circulated, it was alleged that the NBC boss recommended a private company, Pinnacle Communications Ltd to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for the release of money.
Contrary to this, Pinnacle Communications Ltd won in a bid conducted by the then Emeka Mba led NBC and the said money was approved by the Presidency and not D G of NBC.
Investigation further revealed that The Presidency had in 2016 released N10bn to the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to implement the digital switch over programme and a White Paper was issued directing that the process be specifically handled by two companies– Pinnacle Communications and ITS, an affiliate of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) – as winners of the bid to handle the project.
. Monies were released to these two companies by the Ministry of Information on orders of the presidency after jobs were carried out.
An insider, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said Pinnacle has not done anything wrong. He stressed that the news was fake and promoted by an aggrieved rival company “The story is fake. It is fake news” he said.
It would be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo commissioned the Abuja project while that of the Kaduna was done by the Governor Nasiru el Rufai.
Some section of the media had reported that the current Director General of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commision (NBC), Mallam Modibbo Kawu, alongside Pinnacle had embezzled a sum N2.5b. The story said Pinnacle also was not qualified to handle the switch over project spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Information.
It’s unfortunate that Nigerians don’t appreciate their own. An indigenous company won a bid, he meet all the requirements and performed beyond expectations of the regulators of the industry. Instead of commending his efforts some Nigerians are spreading falsehood to bring him down. Unfortunately corrupt Government officials are being used to perfect this bring him down syndrome at a time Federal Government is pleading with Nigerians in diaspora to come back home and contribute to the development of the Nations Economy. When will Nigeria appreciate her own?