Yemisi Izuora
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
the new PayTV platform, TSTV, will enjoy a pioneer status with a
three-year tax relief.
The Minister announced this in Abuja when he unveiled TSTV.
“Dr. (Bright) Echefu (TSTV Managing Director), you have come at a very
good time because this government only recently granted a pioneer
status to the Creative Industry and what this means is that you will
be entitled to a three-year tax relief and all your investors will not
pay any tax dividends,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the unveiling of TSTV has totally redefined the
PayTV platform and, by extension, the TV industry, through the
provision of access to people in all segments of society to enjoy high
quality entertainment.
“What Dr. Echefu has done is to democratize the media and
the entertainment industry and make it possible for all to have access to the best entertainment in the world. Just like a Nigerian also made
history by crashing the cost of telephony in Nigeria, I am glad that
another Nigerian is now coming forward also to crash the price of
PayTV,” he said.
The Minister said the advent of Digital Switch Over in broadcasting in
Nigeria has created a paradigm shift in the television industry, where
compelling contents will now attract viewership.
He identified lack of objective audience measurement mechanism as a
key factor against investment in content production, but disclosed
that his ministry is planning a workshop to address the challenge.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Creative Industry played a critical role,
along with other non-oil sector players, in pulling Nigeria’s economy
out of recession, and that the government plans to develop the
industry to contribute 5% to the GDP, as against its current contribution of 1.36% by 2020.
He commended Dr. Echefu for his courage of conviction and belief in
Nigeria and pledged the readiness of the Federal Government to
continue to create the conducive environment for private sector
investments to thrive.