Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has inspected the FreeTV Digital Switchover (DSO) facilities at the headquarters of Nigerian Communications Satellite in Abuja as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
The minister was received during the visit by the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Charles Ebuebu, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen.
During the inspection, Idris commended the collaboration between the NBC and NIGCOMSAT, describing the Digital Switchover project as a major step toward bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and revitalising the country’s broadcasting industry.
He said the initiative would not only improve access to digital television services but also unlock wider economic opportunities within the media and creative sectors.
The minister, accompanied by heads of agencies under the ministry, noted that the project was critical to expanding access to quality broadcasting services across the country.
Speaking during the visit, NBC Director-General Charles Ebuebu said the adoption of a “satellite-first” strategy would accelerate the nationwide rollout of digital broadcasting by about 65 per cent, while providing immediate access to more than 10 million households.
According to him, about 40 per cent of FreeTV channels have been reserved for regional broadcasters in a move aimed at promoting local languages, culture and community-based content.
On her part, NIGCOMSAT Managing Director Nkechi Egerton-Idehen said the agency’s “Big Picture” initiative would help extend educational and entertainment content to rural and underserved communities through satellite infrastructure.
The visit underscored the Federal Government’s renewed push to complete Nigeria’s long-delayed Digital Switchover programme, which is expected to improve picture quality, expand channel availability and create new opportunities in the broadcasting value chain.
