Nigeria ready to launch digital switch over on June 17, says Mohammed Idris

Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switch Over (DSO) project is set for nationwide launch on June 17, 2026, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced.

The minister disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection tour of facilities operated by NIGCOMSAT at the Obasanjo Space Centre alongside the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, and the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen.

Idris described the development as a major breakthrough for Nigeria’s broadcast industry and part of the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“I think this is a new dawn for our country. The promise that President Tinubu made to reform all sectors is now being seen in action in the broadcast industry,” the minister said.

He noted that after years of delays, the country was finally ready to complete the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.

“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 said.

“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,” Idris stated.

Speaking during the tour, NBC Director-General, Charles Ebuebu, said the revamped DSO framework was designed to align with modern viewing habits and emerging technologies.

According to him, the new system relies on satellite broadcasting and mobile applications to extend coverage beyond the pilot cities used during earlier phases of the DSO programme.