Nigeria Set for Historic Digital TV Switch as FG Fixes June 17 Rollout
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria is on the brink of a major transformation in its broadcasting sector as the Federal Government confirms readiness to launch the long-awaited Digital Switch Over (DSO) project nationwide on June 17, 2026.
This was disclosed in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO) and signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The Minister, Mohammed Idris, announced the development during an inspection tour of facilities at the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) at the Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja, alongside the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, and the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen.
Describing the development as a landmark achievement, the Minister said the rollout marks a new phase in Nigeria’s broadcast industry.
“I think this is a new dawn for our country. The promise that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made to reform all sectors is now being seen in action in the broadcast industry,” Idris said.
He noted that after years of delay, Nigeria is finally transitioning fully from analogue to digital broadcasting, a move expected to revolutionise content delivery and audience engagement.
Highlighting the benefits of the new system, Idris said the DSO platform would significantly improve audience measurement and advertising efficiency.
“This is going to bring a lot of advantages to broadcasters, viewers, and advertisers. If you are viewing any particular station, you know who is viewing, what they are watching, and how many people are watching,” he explained.
The Minister added that the initiative would deepen competition in the industry, expand access to free-to-air television, and enhance viewing quality.
“The monopoly has been broken. Everybody is going to compete. Content is going to grow, viewership will grow, and Nigeria is now moving from SD to HD broadcasting,” he stated.
Also speaking, Ebuebu said the upgraded DSO framework is designed to align with emerging technologies and evolving audience habits, leveraging satellite broadcasting and mobile applications for wider reach.
“We’re going to have 100 channels by the day of launch and even more because more content producers are talking to us. We want to create one market and one platform for Nigeria,” he said.
On her part, Egerton-Idehen described the partnership between NIGCOMSAT and the NBC as critical to improving service delivery and strengthening the digital broadcasting ecosystem.
“The work has only just started. The work has only just begun,” she said, assuring Nigerians of reliable and continuous service backed by ongoing satellite investments.
The minister’s tour was attended by top government officials, including the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdullahi Dembos; Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mohammed Bulama; and Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu.
The nationwide rollout of the Digital Switch Over is expected to reshape Nigeria’s media landscape, boost local content production, and position the country as a key player in digital broadcasting across Sub-Saharan Africa.
