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NBC Unveils Bold Plan To Revive Nigerian Broadcasting After Billions Wasted!.
For nearly two decades, the promise of digital television in Nigeria has remained unfulfilled. Despite over ₦60 billion spent, most Nigerians still rely on analogue signals, while broadcasters operate without reliable audience data.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
On Tuesday, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) addressed this longstanding issue with unprecedented candour. In a presentation titled “The Big Picture,” the regulator acknowledged systemic failures and laid out a bold, time-bound roadmap to deliver a true digital future.
FreeTV: A National Platform for All
Dr. Charles Ebuebu, NBC Director General, presented the plan to the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) General Assembly, outlining FreeTV, a complete digital broadcasting platform aimed at universal access:
- 100% national coverage via hybrid satellite and IP delivery
- Completely free-to-air, no encryption
- User-friendly mobile app for seamless viewing
- European-standard audience measurement system to provide accurate data for advertisers
For the first 18 months, participating broadcasters broadcasting at least 60% local content and actively promoting the platform will air for free. A regulated rate card begins January 2028. The analogue switch-off is set for 31 December 2028, with no extensions.
Decentralising Storytelling and Boosting Jobs
The plan also emphasizes cultural and economic growth. Six regional production hubs will be established to amplify local voices:
- Lagos – Film and post-production
- Kano – Hausa content
- Enugu – Igbo language and culture
- Benin – Edo and South-South stories
- Port Harcourt
- Jos
Additional hubs are planned for other regions. The initiative aims to generate thousands of jobs in production, technical, and creative fields, while increasing national cohesion through local storytelling.
Learning From Global Successes
The strategy draws on international best practices:
- UK Freeview’s public-private partnership model
- South Africa’s boost in local content post-DSO
- Bulgaria’s GARB audience measurement system
- Avoiding Ghana’s stalled, politicized digital transition
A Direct Call to Action
NBC has removed nearly all technical and financial barriers for broadcasters in the first 18 months. In return, it demands commitment to local content quotas and active promotion. Dr. Ebuebu’s message was clear:
“Your content. Our distribution. National reach. The digital future will happen. The only question is whether you will lead it… or watch it from the sidelines.”
Understanding Digital Switchover (DSO)
Digital Switchover replaces analogue TV with digital terrestrial television (DTT), offering:
- Superior picture and sound quality (HD/UHD)
- More channels within the same spectrum
- Lower transmission and operational costs
- Freed spectrum for mobile broadband
Analogue signals are inefficient and outdated. Digital broadcasting supports interactive features, better reception, and portable device access. Globally, countries like the US, UK, and many in Europe completed their transitions in the 2010s. In Africa, delays are common due to infrastructure, funding, and awareness challenges.
Nigeria’s Digital Journey
Nigeria’s DSO began in 2006–2012, with pilot projects in Jos, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kwara. Funding gaps, infrastructure challenges, and inconsistent government support delayed the transition, missing the 2015 ITU deadline.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NBC has revived the project with NIGCOMSAT, using a hybrid terrestrial-satellite model to ensure nationwide coverage, especially in remote areas.
Targeted Benefits
- More channels with superior quality
- Freed spectrum for telecom growth
- Boost to local content production and broadcasting
- Improved access in underserved regions
Remaining Challenges
- Affordable hybrid decoders/set-top boxes
- Public awareness and sensitization
- Technical skills development
- Ensuring no citizen is left behind
Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) has graduated 17,300 students at its combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies held on Saturday at the main campus.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The university also conferred honorary Doctorate Degrees on Paul Odili, Founder and CEO of Paulo Group of Companies; Prof. Yusuf Ali, SAN; and Emmanuel Issa, in recognition of their contributions to society.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the honourees were selected based on their character, achievements, and commitment to excellence.
He urged graduating students to focus on what they can contribute to national development, stressing that character, discipline, and integrity would determine their success beyond the classroom.
According to him, certificates may open doors, but personal values and conduct will shape long-term achievements.
The Vice Chancellor also reminded the graduates to uphold the reputation of the institution wherever they go.
Fawehinmi disclosed that the 29th convocation covered the 2022/2023 academic session, while the 30th covered 2023/2024, with thousands graduating across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Speaking after receiving his honorary award, Dr. Odili dedicated the recognition to Nigerians with dreams and encouraged young people to remain persistent in pursuing their goals.
He also pledged support for the university, promising collaboration aimed at addressing key challenges facing the institution.
The Federal Government has released an updated list of items banned from importation into Nigeria, in a move aimed at protecting local industries and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The revised prohibition schedule, dated April 1, 2026, outlines 17 broad categories of goods that are no longer allowed into the country through any entry point.
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the policy affects a wide range of products, including food items, pharmaceuticals, household goods, and industrial materials.
One of the most notable aspects of the list is the ban on several widely used medicines under specified HS codes, including paracetamol, metronidazole, cotrimoxazole, chloroquine, aspirin, folic acid, and some vitamin supplements. The government says these are now to be produced locally.
The restriction also covers pharmaceutical waste, which remains completely prohibited.
In the agriculture and food sector, the importation of poultry, pork, beef, and eggs remains banned, although an exception was made for hatching eggs used for breeding and research purposes.
Retail-packaged vegetable oils, sugar products, cocoa derivatives, tomato paste, and certain bottled water products are also included in the import restrictions, with emphasis on encouraging local production.
The policy further bars detergents, soaps, ballpoint pens and refills, cement, certain fertilizers, packaging materials, and specific steel and glass products.
The Nigeria Customs Service has been directed to enforce the new rules strictly, with importers and businesses advised to comply fully to avoid seizure of goods and penalties.
ADC chieftain and publisher, Dele Momodu, has dismissed calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, describing the push as unfair and politically motivated.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Momodu was reacting to comments by activist Zekeri Idris Jnr, a supporter of Peter Obi, who urged Atiku to step aside over concerns about his age, which would be about 80 by 2027.
In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Momodu said attention should be focused on holding the government accountable rather than targeting Atiku’s political ambition.
The exchange followed a viral video where Idris insisted that Atiku should support younger aspirants instead of contesting, arguing that voters would not back an elderly candidate.
Idris also suggested that Atiku should act as a statesman and support younger politicians such as Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others.
Responding, Momodu cited several world leaders who held office at advanced ages, arguing that experience should not be dismissed in leadership discussions.
He questioned what should disqualify Atiku from contesting, insisting that age alone is not a valid reason.
Atiku, who lost the 2023 presidential election to President Bola Tinubu, is reportedly considering another run in 2027 under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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