The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria’s long-awaited Digital Switch Over (DSO) project will be rolled out nationwide on June 17, 2026.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a facility tour of the headquarters of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) in Abuja.
According to the minister, the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting has now been completed and is ready for official commissioning.
“You recall that for many years, Nigerians have been grappling with this idea of the DSO, the digital switchover. In other words, removing our transmissions from analogue to digital. Now this has happened, and it is ready to be commissioned by the 17th of June this year,” Idris said.
He explained that the project is expected to transform broadcasting, advertising, and television viewership across Nigeria and the wider sub-Saharan African region.
Idris noted that the digital platform would improve audience measurement systems for broadcasters and advertisers by providing accurate data on viewing patterns and consumer preferences.
“This will help advertisers to take informed decisions about what programme people are watching and what Nigerians want to watch across all demographics,” he said.
He added that the DSO initiative would encourage healthy competition among broadcasters and content producers while improving picture quality through a transition to high-definition television services.
The minister further stated that the new system differs significantly from earlier attempts at digital migration, explaining that previous set-top boxes were encrypted and limited users’ ability to switch service providers.
“As a result, the cost also became higher. Now, this service is free, and the government has already absorbed some of these costs,” Idris added.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NigComSat, Jane Egerton-Idehen, received the minister during the visit.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, revealed that 100 television channels would be available at the official launch of the platform.
Ebuebu said the upgraded DSO system was designed to leverage emerging technologies and extend access to viewers beyond major urban centres.
He also disclosed that the NBC has established six regional studios across the country to support content creators and reduce overdependence on Lagos and Abuja for media production.
