TINUBU RENEWS NTA AND NAN LEADERSHIP TENURES .

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the appointments of Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Ali Mohammed Ali as Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for another three-year term.

The decision, announced in August 2026, means both media executives will continue leading the federal government’s two major public media institutions after their first terms expire.

Their new tenure is scheduled to begin on October 20, 2026, following their initial appointments on October 20, 2023.

What Happened?

President Tinubu approved a second three-year term for the two media executives, signalling continuity at the top of NTA and NAN.

The President also urged both executives to justify the confidence placed in them by remaining committed to the mandates of their respective organisations and supporting the implementation of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The decision is significant because NTA and NAN occupy important positions in Nigeria's information ecosystem.

While NTA operates as a major national television broadcaster, NAN supplies news reports and information to newspapers, television stations, radio stations, online publications and other media users.

Who Is Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos?

Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos is a veteran broadcaster with a long history at NTA.

He joined the organisation in 1989 as an announcer at NTA Kaduna after completing his National Youth Service. Over the years, he rose through several positions, including General Manager of NTA Lokoja and NTA Kano.

He later served as Acting Zonal Director of the NTA Kaduna Network Centre and became Executive Director of Marketing before his appointment as Director-General.

His extensive experience within NTA gives him substantial institutional knowledge as the organisation prepares for another three years under his leadership.

Who Is Ali Mohammed Ali?

Ali Mohammed Ali is an experienced journalist and media administrator with more than three decades of professional experience.

He studied English at Bayero University, Kano, obtained a graduate degree in International Affairs from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from Bayero University.

His professional interests have included media development, digital journalism and content creation for audiences whose methods of consuming news are changing rapidly.

Why the Renewal Matters

The reappointments come at an important moment for Nigeria's media industry.

Audiences are increasingly moving from traditional television and newspapers toward smartphones, social media, streaming platforms and digital news services.

That shift creates both opportunities and challenges for NTA and NAN.

For NTA, the challenge is to remain competitive with increasingly sophisticated digital broadcasters and online platforms while maintaining its traditional national broadcasting responsibilities.

For NAN, speed, accuracy and credibility are increasingly important because news now travels across the internet within seconds.

The Digital Media Challenge

One of the biggest tests facing the renewed leadership will be digital transformation.

Modern audiences expect news to be:

- Fast

- Accurate

- Accessible

- Mobile-friendly

- Engaging

- Available across multiple platforms

NTA and NAN therefore have an opportunity to strengthen their digital operations and reach younger audiences without abandoning their traditional audiences.

The future of public broadcasting will depend not only on television transmission or conventional news distribution, but also on websites, mobile platforms, social media, multimedia storytelling and other digital formats.

Credibility Will Be Critical

Nigeria's information environment is increasingly crowded.

Alongside professional journalism, citizens encounter rumours, misleading claims, manipulated content and unverified information online.

That makes credible journalism particularly important.

For NAN, maintaining high standards of accuracy and verification will be essential because its reports can become the foundation for stories published by numerous other media organisations.

For NTA, credibility will also influence how audiences perceive its news, public affairs programmes and other content.

What Tinubu's Decision Could Mean for NTA

The three-year renewal provides NTA with leadership continuity.

That could allow the organisation to build on existing initiatives rather than repeatedly changing direction with new leadership.

The coming term could focus on improving content quality, strengthening digital broadcasting, modernising production systems, expanding audience reach and developing programming that appeals to changing viewer preferences.

The bigger question is whether continuity will translate into measurable improvements for audiences.

What It Could Mean for NAN

NAN faces a different but equally important challenge.

News agencies must compete in an environment where information is distributed almost instantly through digital platforms.

NAN's continued relevance will therefore depend heavily on its ability to provide reliable information quickly while adapting its services to the needs of modern media organisations.

The agency also has an opportunity to expand multimedia journalism, strengthen digital distribution and make its content more useful to online publishers.

The Bigger Political Picture

The renewal also has political significance because NTA and NAN are government-owned media institutions.

Public broadcasters and news agencies play an important role in communicating government policies and national developments.

At the same time, their long-term credibility depends on maintaining professional journalistic standards and providing audiences with information they can trust.

This makes the renewed tenure of both executives particularly important as Nigeria moves toward another politically active period.

What Nigerians Will Be Watching

Over the next three years, several issues are likely to determine whether the renewal is judged successful.

1. Better digital reach

NTA and NAN will need to meet audiences where they increasingly consume information: online and on mobile devices.

2. Stronger journalism

Accuracy, verification and responsible reporting will remain essential.

3. Better content

Audiences will expect programming and news coverage that is informative, relevant and competitive.

4. Technological modernisation

Modern broadcasting and digital news distribution require continuous investment in technology and skills.

5. Public trust

Ultimately, the success of both organisations will depend heavily on whether Nigerians consider their reporting credible and useful.

A New Three-Year Test

The renewal gives Dembos and Ali another opportunity to demonstrate what experienced leadership can achieve in rapidly changing media environments.

For Dembos, the challenge is to strengthen NTA's position in a television industry increasingly shaped by digital platforms.

For Ali, the task is to ensure NAN remains a trusted and relevant source of news in an environment where information moves faster than ever.

Both organisations have significant national responsibilities.

Their success will therefore be measured not simply by the continuation of their appointments, but by tangible improvements in journalism, technology, audience engagement and public service.

Final Takeaway

President Tinubu's decision to renew the tenures of Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos and Ali Mohammed Ali provides leadership continuity for NTA and NAN for another three years beginning October 20, 2026.

The renewal represents both a vote of confidence and a fresh challenge.

The expectations are high: stronger journalism, greater digital reach, modernised operations and increased public trust.

For Nigeria's public media institutions, the next three years could become a defining period in the transition from traditional broadcasting and news distribution to a more digital, competitive and audience-driven media landscape.