The Federal Government has announced a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme following what it described as a broad consensus among key stakeholders in the broadcasting and communications industry.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed the development after a high-level stakeholder meeting held in Abuja involving regulators, broadcasters, signal distributors, content creators, manufacturers and satellite operators.
According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Tuesday, June 16, the meeting was convened to address outstanding concerns surrounding the DSO project and ended with agreement on several key components of the digital migration process.
Among the areas of consensus reached were the adoption of a hybrid broadcasting model, continued reliance on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), improved investment protection measures, and sustained collaboration among industry stakeholders. Idris described the outcome of the engagement as a strong indication that the sector is ready to support the next phase of Nigeria’s transition to digital broadcasting.
He said stakeholders agreed that the DSO programme goes beyond a technical upgrade and has the potential to generate employment, boost local content production, attract investment, and strengthen the country’s creative economy.
“The level of agreement we have achieved shows that stakeholders are aligned on the future of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. This is a strong foundation for accelerated implementation,” the minister said.
He commended participants for their collaborative approach, noting that national interest was prioritised throughout the discussions, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a stable regulatory environment for the sector.
Idris also assured industry players that government would continue to protect investments while ensuring an inclusive implementation process. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting emphasised the need for continuous stakeholder engagement, improved business models within the broadcasting sector, and stronger support for local manufacturing and content development.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders pledging to accelerate the digital transition in a way that promotes sustainability, innovation and shared growth across Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Among those present were senior officials from key agencies including the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Channels Television, and other industry stakeholders.
