Kojo's interview

It is no longer news that the Nigeria television Authority, the self acclaimed Africa’s largest TV network was denied the rights to cover Nigerian national team matches, no thanks to AIT’s resilience. What is news however, is that NTA has refused bluntly to make any efforts to transmit these games via AIT for strange reasons best known to the operators of the station. It is an undisputed fact that NTA, which has over the years gained a much wider reach than AIT are in a better position to serve millions of soccer loving fans scattered all over the world. Through NTA international, Nigerians across the globe, have been following the National team games passionately. However the events of the past one month have pushed many to wonder which interest NTA is serving; their ego or the interest of millions of Nigerians. Having lost out in the rights battle to AIT, it was expected that NTA would have entered into partnership or agreement with AIT to ensure that millions of Nigerians that had relied on NTA over the years, did not and do not have their hopes dashed. AIT winning the rights, does not mean that Nigerians would be denied the opportunity to watch their beloved National teams. What is more curious and bizarre is that the management of NTA has not deemed it appropriate to explain to Nigerians, whom they serve, the reason for their refusal to show the National teams games since the Austrian friendly. NTA should equally explain to Nigerians why EURO 2008 games should take precedence over the super Eagles games as witnessed in the past few weeks. It amounts to impunity and insult for the management of NTA to continue to keep mum over this issue. The station is funded by tax payers’ money and therefore owes it as a duty and responsibility to serve the Nigerian public. If NTA can link up with private stations outside Nigeria to cover some irrelevant sporting and political events, we see no reason why NTA must not show OUR matches through AIT. We call on the Information and communication ministry, the senate and House of Representatives committees on information to summon the management of NTA to explain why this unpatriotic act is being perpetrated. Any member of NTA management whose ego is being put before the interest and wishes of the Nigerian people must be kicked out of NTA for the general good of the people of Nigeria. This is the time to start making government employees know that they are people’s employees. NTA with an efficient marketing department remain one of the richest stations in Nigeria (if not the richest) considering the amount of money they rake in through advertisements and sponsorship and have absolutely nor reason to be beaten by AIT. As revealed during the week by a House of Representatives committee probe, NTA does not seem to have a good financial management system as they seem to spend billions every year with nothing to show for it. A thorough investigation of what has gone on and what is going on in NTA is needed. Nigerians must rise and demand that our games be shown live by NTA, good or bad. Enough, they say, is enough.