Seventeen years after its launch and over ₦60 billion reportedly spent, Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project remains incomplete, raising questions about government commitment and efficiency in executing the ambitious transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Launched in 2008 by the Federal Government, the DSO aimed to modernize television broadcasting, improve signal quality, and create over a million jobs across the creative and broadcast industries.
Yet, nearly two decades on, the project has repeatedly missed deadlines and failed to gain widespread traction, despite substantial public funding and multiple relaunch efforts.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) initially estimated the total cost of the transition at ₦68 billion.
So far, close to ₦60 billion has reportedly been spent, excluding private investments by Broadcast Signal Distributors and local Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) infrastructure developers.
Still, the digital switchover remains largely absent in most parts of the country.
A pilot phase was launched in Jos, Plateau State, in 2016, and since then, only five additional states—Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, and Delta—have officially seen rollouts.
However, on-the-ground reports reveal minimal awareness or use of the service, even in pilot locations.
For instance, Ruth Eniola, a Jos resident, told Daily Independent she knows no one who uses the DSO platform, with many households still relying on analogue signals or pay-TV services like DStv, GOtv, and StarTimes.
Experts blame the delays on poor funding continuity, lack of infrastructure, weak public awareness, political instability, and disputes among key stakeholders.
Equipment procurement and distribution of set-top boxes also face persistent logistical setbacks.
Several African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, and Uganda have successfully transitioned to digital broadcasting, supported by clear policies, defined timelines, and consistent government commitment.
Nigeria, however, continues to fall behind despite being Africa’s most populous nation and a regional media giant.
In an attempt to revive the project, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019 approved ₦30 billion for DSO implementation, with an additional ₦9.4 billion committed in 2021 for a ministerial task force led by former Information Minister Lai Mohammed.
In 2022, an MoU between Integrated Television Services (ITS) and StarTimes was touted as a “game changer” to fast-track the process using NTA’s 70+ transmission sites nationwide.
Still, no significant results materialized before the administration exited office.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s government, a fresh ₦10 billion grant was approved in August 2024 to continue the digital switchover.
NBC Director-General Charles Ebuebu stated the funds would be used to enhance infrastructure, develop TV content, expand satellite coverage, and implement audience measurement tools.
The NBC also announced a partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to integrate the initiative into the broader digital economy strategy.
Despite renewed assurances, many industry stakeholders remain skeptical.
With the rise of internet-based streaming platforms and declining costs of pay-TV services, some experts argue that the DSO project is outdated and may no longer be necessary.
Critics have called on the government to halt further spending and reassess the relevance and viability of the initiative in today’s media landscape.
As Nigeria continues to lag behind in achieving a digital broadcasting future, the DSO project serves as a stark example of how grand visions can falter in the absence of consistent planning, transparency, and execution.
