By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme is fully prepared for nationwide rollout, with official commissioning scheduled for June 17, 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during an inspection tour of facilities at the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) complex located at the Obasanjo Space Centre in Abuja.
The Minister, who was accompanied by top executives of the broadcasting sector, described the development as a significant milestone in the ongoing reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, aimed at modernising Nigeria’s media and communications landscape.
He said the transition marks “a new dawn” for the country’s broadcast industry, noting that years of delays in completing the analogue-to-digital migration had finally been overcome.
According to him, the DSO platform will transform broadcasting by introducing advanced audience measurement tools and real-time analytics that will allow broadcasters and advertisers to better understand viewership patterns and improve content delivery.
“This will bring significant benefits to broadcasters, viewers, and advertisers. It will enable accurate data on audience engagement and improve programming decisions across the industry,” Idris said.
He further explained that the digital ecosystem would intensify competition within the broadcast sector, expand access to free-to-air television, and enhance picture quality nationwide, as Nigeria fully transitions from standard definition to high-definition broadcasting.
“The monopoly is broken. Competition will increase, content will improve, and Nigerians will enjoy better and cleaner signals through satellite and digital platforms powered by NIGCOMSAT technology,” he added.
The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, said the upgraded DSO framework has been designed to reflect modern viewing habits and emerging technologies, including satellite distribution and mobile-based access platforms.
He revealed that the system is expected to launch with over 100 television channels, noting that additional content providers are already onboarding ahead of the rollout.
“We are building a unified market and a single platform for Nigerian broadcasting. There will be expanded production centres across regions and improved multilingual support systems,” Ebuebu stated.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen, described the collaboration between NIGCOMSAT and the NBC as a strategic partnership that has strengthened Nigeria’s digital broadcasting infrastructure.
She said ongoing satellite upgrades and continued investment under the current administration would ensure stable and reliable service delivery across the country.
“The work has only just begun,” she said, emphasising the long-term nature of the project.
Others on the inspection tour included the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Abdullahi Dembos; the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace; the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Mohammed Bulama; and the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, alongside other senior government officials.
The Federal Government says the June 17 launch will formally usher Nigeria into a fully digital broadcasting era, positioning the sector for improved efficiency, competitiveness, and expanded audience reach.
