President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the tenure of the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Mohammed Ali, for another three years.
The renewed appointments will take effect from October 20, 2026, following the expiration of their current three-year tenure.
The decision provides continuity in the leadership of two of Nigeria’s major public media organisations, with both institutions expected to continue strengthening their roles in information dissemination, public enlightenment and the country’s media landscape.
Dembos to Continue at NTA
Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos has spent several decades in the Nigerian Television Authority, rising through different positions before becoming Director-General.
He joined NTA in 1989 as an announcer at the Kaduna station and subsequently served in various capacities, including General Manager of NTA Lokoja and NTA Kano.
He later served as Acting Zonal Director of the NTA Kaduna Network Centre before retiring from active service in 2017. He subsequently returned to the Authority as Executive Director of Marketing.
Dembos’ experience within the organisation has given him an extensive understanding of NTA’s operations and its role as Nigeria’s national broadcaster.
His renewed tenure comes at a time when the broadcasting industry is changing rapidly, with audiences increasingly consuming news and entertainment through digital platforms, social media and other emerging technologies.
The next three years will therefore provide an opportunity to build on ongoing efforts to strengthen NTA’s content, digital presence and reach, while maintaining its role in informing, educating and entertaining Nigerians.
Ali Mohammed Ali Retained at NAN
Also returning for another three-year term is Ali Mohammed Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria.
Ali is a veteran journalist and media administrator with extensive experience in the Nigerian media industry. His continued leadership of NAN comes as the news industry adapts to rapid changes in technology and the way people access information.
For NAN, maintaining the speed, accuracy and credibility of news remains central to its role as a major source of information for newspapers, television and radio stations, online platforms and other media organisations.
The renewed tenure provides an opportunity to consolidate ongoing efforts to strengthen the agency’s operations and respond to the demands of the digital news environment.
Strengthening Public Media
NTA and NAN play different but complementary roles in Nigeria’s media space.
While NTA provides television broadcasting and public information to audiences across the country and beyond, NAN gathers and distributes news to media organisations and other audiences.
Their continued leadership comes at a time when access to information has expanded significantly, while concerns about misinformation, disinformation and the credibility of news have also increased.
This makes the role of credible public media organisations even more important.
The renewed appointments are therefore expected to provide stability and continuity as both institutions continue to adapt to changes in technology, audience behaviour and the wider media industry.
Looking Ahead
With their renewed tenure beginning in October, Dembos and Ali are expected to continue building on the work of their first term and strengthening the institutions they lead.
For NTA, the focus will include remaining relevant in an increasingly digital broadcasting environment while continuing to serve audiences across Nigeria and internationally.
For NAN, the challenge will be to sustain timely and credible news gathering and distribution in a rapidly changing information environment.
The renewal of the two appointments signals continuity in the leadership of the country’s major public media institutions and places renewed responsibility on both executives to deliver on the mandates of NTA and NAN.
The next three years will ultimately be an opportunity to consolidate progress, respond to emerging challenges and strengthen the role of public media in informing Nigerians and contributing to national development.
