Lagos, May 20, 2026 — The Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) has thrown its weight behind the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) enforcement of a 60 percent local content requirement for television broadcasters, describing the policy as a critical pillar for the success of Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) programme scheduled for rollout on June 17, 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, EMCOAN commended the Director-General of the NBC, Dr. Charles Ebuebu, for his leadership and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting industry through the digital migration initiative.
The association noted that under Dr. Ebuebu’s leadership, the NBC has reinvigorated the DSO roadmap and established a clear framework for an inclusive and sustainable digital broadcasting ecosystem.
Speaking on the significance of the transition, Dr. Ebuebu said the Digital Switch Over extends beyond a technological upgrade and is aimed at creating a sustainable creative economy.
“Our objective with the Digital Switch Over goes beyond changing signals; it is about building a sustainable creative economy. The success of this ecosystem hinges on robust partnerships with critical stakeholders like EMCOAN, whose capacity to generate premium local content will keep our platforms vibrant and commercially viable,” he said.
EMCOAN President, Mr. Adeniji Omirin, reaffirmed the association’s support for the NBC’s local content directive, stressing that quality Nigerian programming would be essential to attracting and retaining audiences in the digital era.
“EMCOAN categorically supports this 60 percent local content directive. We firmly believe that the digital transition cannot succeed on infrastructure alone; it must be sustained by high-quality, culturally resonant programming that keeps millions of Nigerian households glued to their screens,” Omirin said.
According to him, compelling local content will drive audience engagement, increase advertising revenue, and inject fresh investment into both the broadcasting and content production sectors.
To support the implementation of the policy and the broader DSO agenda, EMCOAN presented itself as a strategic partner to the NBC, broadcasters, and platform operators.
The association highlighted its strengths, including extensive production capabilities across genres such as drama, reality television, news, documentaries, and children’s programming, as well as a vast catalogue of premium intellectual property available for immediate licensing across domestic and pan-African broadcast platforms.
EMCOAN stated that its members are fully prepared to deploy their creative assets and expertise to ensure the Digital Switch Over delivers long-term commercial benefits for broadcasters while providing audiences with richer and more diverse local content offerings.
Nigeria’s DSO programme is expected to mark a major milestone in the country’s broadcasting evolution, opening new opportunities for content creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and technology providers while expanding access to high-definition digital television services nationwide.
