Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association (NBMOA) has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to overturn the Federal High Court, Abuja ruling, which allows AREWA24 organisation to operate in Nigeria.
It asked the appellate court to enforce regulatory fairness, protect local content and ensure a level playing field in broadcasting.
The lower court had dismissed the suit it filed against AREWA24 in August, citing “lack of jurisdiction and merit,” as seen on the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment.
In a statement, the court affirmed that AREWA24 operates legally and is under no obligation to obtain any additional license for its operations, having breached no law.
However, NBMOA chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, in a press statement on Tuesday, said the trial judge, Justice Omotosho’s ruling amounted to “legalising unlicensed foreign channels to parasite freely in Nigeria’s broadcast-advertising industry.”
The association insisted that AREWA24 is an American-owned channel with offices in Kano and Lagos. It transmits Hausa dramas and imported, dubbed international shows to Nigerian homes via DStv, GOtv and StarTimes.
Despite its operations, it has no National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) licence. It also charges “outrageously priced” advert rates while bypassing obligations imposed on local broadcasters.
NBMOA accused the court of misclassifying AREWA24 as a “mere content creator” instead of a broadcaster, warning that the ruling undermines Nigeria’s regulatory framework and threatens indigenous stations already struggling under tough competition.
According to the Association, the channel lacks a valid NBC licence yet competes for adverts with “outrageous” rate cards.
Indigenous broadcasters, who follow the law, are being forced out of business.
“This judgment legalises unlicensed foreign media channels to parasitise freely in Nigeria. We will not stand by while foreign operators camouflage and distort the media landscape and our industry is hijacked”, Ramalan declared.
