DSO Or Die Trying: Why Nigeria Must Ditch The Past And Embrace A Digital Future By Tajudeen Adepetu

Background

In 2006, Nigeria joined the global mandate led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting. The goal was clear: improve broadcast quality, free up spectrum, enable more channels, and unlock economic opportunities across the creative and tech industries.

By 2015, the Nigerian government approved a White Paper to guide the Digital Switch Over (DSO), with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) leading implementation. But what was meant to be a bold leap forward has since stalled—crippled by bureaucracy, outdated policy, resistance from entrenched interests, and a lack of political will.

Now, nearly two decades after that global mandate, Nigeria is still stuck in limbo—while other countries have fully embraced the digital broadcasting era. This isn’t just embarrassing. It’s economically dangerous.

It’s time for a hard reset. The DSO must move forward—not on nostalgia, but on today’s realities and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO): Time to Stop the Stalemate and Move Forward

Let’s be honest—Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) project was meant to be a game-changer. It had the potential to transform our broadcast sector, boost content distribution, create new jobs, and elevate the viewer experience. But that dream has stalled. Why? We’re trying to build the future using the tools—and thinking—of the past.

It’s 2025. We can’t run a marathon with shackles from 2015.

The Rules Are Outdated. The Game Has Changed.

The DSO was guided by a White Paper written in 2015. That’s almost a lifetime ago in tech years. The world has moved. Back then, DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) was the star. Today, it’s DTH, OTT, streaming, and hybrid systems. We’re now living in an era where your mobile phone is your TV, your radio, and your cinema—rolled into one.

Yet Nigeria’s policy framework is still wired to old specs—forcing us to use outdated Set-Top Boxes, sidelining broadband integration, and ignoring global best practices.

This is more than inefficient—it’s self-sabotage.

The Real Risk? Getting Left Behind

If we don’t update our policies now, we risk building a digital infrastructure that’s obsolete before it’s even live. Millions of dollars will go down the drain. Creators and broadcasters will be stuck in tech that can’t compete. The global content economy will leave us behind.

Why should we be held hostage by outdated decisions when new opportunities are knocking?

Let the NBC Do Its Job

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is the body legally charged with steering this transition. So let them steer. Give them the power to modernize policy. Let them engage meaningfully with stakeholders. Shield them from bureaucratic drama and political landmines.

The NBC is not the enemy. Obstructing it doesn’t protect progress—it kills it.

Enough with the Infighting

Some are resisting the new DSO path because of old investments. That’s understandable—but it’s not sustainable. Legacy systems should never outweigh national growth. We need fresh strategies, not stale grudges. We need stakeholders who build, not bicker.

Let’s Talk About Set-Top Boxes

Here’s the truth: The DTT-only boxes being pushed are outdated. They’re limiting. They cut users off from richer, smarter content experiences. Today’s consumer wants flexibility—TV, internet, streaming, all in one device. Anything less is a disservice to both audience and industry.

We need hybrid STBs that reflect current tech realities. Anything else is a dead end.

What Needs to Happen—Now

Rip up the 2015 playbook. It’s done. It no longer fits the world we live in. Update the White Paper and align with today’s digital ecosystem.

Back the NBC—fully. Stop the noise. Give them the room and support to lead effectively.

Think forward, not backward. This is about future growth—not preserving outdated systems.

End the sabotage. We can’t keep slowing down the train over old battles. Progress doesn’t wait.

Talk like builders, not gatekeepers. Every stakeholder must commit to solutions, not gridlocks.

Final Word

This is not just a switch from analog to digital—it’s a test of Nigeria’s readiness to embrace the future. And right now, we’re flunking that test.

We don’t need another delay. We need bold leadership, policy courage, and a unified industry mindset. The NBC’s direction is right. They deserve our full support.

Let’s stop dragging our feet. Let’s stop arguing over yesterday’s hardware. Let’s build a digital broadcast system that actually works—for now and for the future.

Nigeria is home to Africa’s most influential creatives—filmmakers, musicians, content producers, and digital storytellers who shape global pop culture and drive billion-dollar industries.

From Nollywood to Afrobeats, Nigerian talent is setting the pace. Yet, the outdated handling of the Digital Switch Over is a disservice to this ecosystem. By clinging to obsolete policies and technologies, we’re choking distribution channels, limiting access to local content, and blocking the full monetization potential of creative work. In a country bursting with world-class talent, failing to provide a modern broadcast infrastructure isn’t just shortsighted—it’s sabotage.

Nigeria deserves better. And the time to act is now.

Opinion by Tajuddeen Adepetu
Broadcaster, Media-Tech Entrepreneur, CEO of Group8, Nigeria’s leading broadcast network: Owners of OnTV, Soundcity, Spice,Televista and a host of others

Trump’s Tariff Trap: Why U.S. Trade Policy Spells Trouble for Nigerian Exports

As President Donald Trump continues to champion protectionist trade policies, global markets are already bracing for impact. While much of the attention has been focused on China, Mexico, and the European Union, one less examined—but profoundly affected—victim of Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda is Nigeria.

Africa’s largest economy, already burdened by inflation, forex volatility, and limited industrial capacity, now faces an additional challenge: declining export access to one of its most important trade partners.

Trump’s Tariff Plan: A Snapshot

Trump has repeatedly promised to impose a 10% universal tariff on all imports if re-elected, and a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, with broader plans to reshape global trade dynamics under an “America First” banner. The move is touted as a way to protect U.S. industries, reduce reliance on foreign goods, and strengthen domestic jobs.

But trade economists warn that such a policy will create ripple effects across emerging economies, especially those like Nigeria that rely on trade openness to boost growth and foreign exchange inflow.

Nigerian Exports at Risk

Although the U.S. is not Nigeria’s largest export destination (India and the EU currently lead), it remains a strategic trade partner, especially for:

• Crude oil and petroleum products

• Agricultural exports (cocoa, sesame seeds, rubber, etc.)

• Solid minerals and metals

In 2023, Nigeria exported goods worth over $3 billion to the United States, much of which was eligible for duty-free access under AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act). But Trump’s tariff model could jeopardize AGOA’s continuity or undermine its benefits, directly impacting Nigeria’s ability to compete in American markets.

“Tariffs will make Nigerian goods more expensive to U.S. buyers, reducing demand and hurting our exporters,” says Dr. Tola Adebayo, a Lagos-based international trade analyst.

The Oil Factor: A Double-Edged Sword

Crude oil forms the bulk of Nigerian exports, including to the U.S. But Trump’s energy policy, which favors U.S. fossil fuel expansion, could lower U.S. oil imports, shrinking Nigeria’s already narrow export window.

Add to that the rising competition from Latin American and Middle Eastern oil producers, and Nigerian crude could lose market share, particularly if tariffs distort existing trade flows.

“Even if oil isn’t directly tariffed, retaliatory policies or shifts in demand can affect us indirectly,” said Ngozi Obi-Ani, a trade and energy policy expert.

Manufacturing and Agro-Processing in Jeopardy

Nigeria’s non-oil exports—especially agricultural products like cocoa, cashew, and sesame—are slowly gaining traction in U.S. markets. But these products are highly price-sensitive. A sudden tariff will make Nigerian commodities less competitive, especially when rivals like Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia maintain cheaper access.

Moreover, U.S. tariffs could disrupt supply chains for Nigerian manufacturers dependent on U.S. machinery, parts, or technology, further stalling local industrialization efforts.

Impact on Employment and Forex Earnings

The knock-on effect of reduced exports is lower foreign exchange earnings, which Nigeria sorely needs to stabilize its naira and meet import obligations. It also threatens thousands of jobs in export-linked sectors, from agriculture and logistics to oil and gas.

“With youth unemployment already above 40%, a slump in export-driven sectors could worsen the crisis,” warns Folashade Yusuf, economist at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

A Call for Strategic Diversification

Analysts argue that Trump’s trade policies underscore the urgent need for Nigeria to diversify its export base, improve intra-African trade through the AfCFTA, and forge stronger ties with Asia and Europe.

“The world is shifting from globalization to regionalization. Nigeria must adapt quickly, build industrial capacity, and reduce dependence on traditional markets like the U.S.,” Adebayo stressed.

Conclusion: Nigeria Must Brace for Impact

Whether or not Trump returns to the White House, his tariff doctrine has already reignited protectionist sentiments in global trade. For Nigeria, the implications are clear: the need to strengthen competitiveness, diversify partners, and rethink trade policy is more urgent than ever.

Failure to act now may not just weaken Nigeria’s export economy—it could cost the nation its place at the global trade table.

Elon Musk Breaks Ranks with Trump, Torches Navarro in Tariff Tirade: “He Ain’t Built Sh—”

In a fiery outburst that stunned political and economic circles alike, Elon Musk has publicly broken with the Trump administration on its aggressive tariff policies—taking direct aim at White House trade czar Peter Navarro in the process.

The billionaire tech titan, still reeling from an $11 billion loss in personal wealth after a market nosedive sparked by Trump’s new global tariffs, didn’t hold back in his criticism.

Musk lit up X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday with a string of barbed posts targeting Navarro, one of the chief architects of Trump’s protectionist trade agenda.

“A PhD in Econ from Harvard is a bad thing, not a good thing,” Musk jabbed, taking aim at Navarro’s academic credentials. “Results in the ego/brains >> 1 problem,” he added, implying inflated ego and misplaced intelligence.

When another user chimed in to defend Navarro, Musk doubled down with a brutal retort: “He ain’t built sh—.”

The remarks mark a rare public rift between Musk and the Trump administration, with whom he has shared an occasionally cordial, often complex relationship. But the recent announcement of sweeping tariffs—impacting virtually every U.S. trading partner—appears to have pushed the SpaceX and Tesla CEO over the edge.

Musk voiced his preference for open global trade, calling instead for a “zero tariff situation” between the U.S. and Europe, starkly contrasting the isolationist bent of current policy.

The fallout from Trump’s tariff decree has been swift. Global markets tumbled, and Musk’s own companies—Tesla and SpaceX—saw shares dip sharply, contributing to a multi-billion-dollar blow to his fortune.

While Navarro has not responded publicly to Musk’s tirade, insiders say tensions between Silicon Valley power players and Washington’s trade hawks have been simmering for months.

With Musk’s comments now fanning the flames, the clash between tech and Trumpworld may just be heating up.