Documentary: Editors Ask Federal Govt To Reverse N5m Fines On DSTV, TSTV, NTA, Trust TV

Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s decision to fine TRUST TV, DSTV, TSTV, and NTA.

NGE president, Mustapha Isah, who disclosed this while speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP yesterday called for the immediate withdrawal of the fine.

Isah said the government should see the media as partners in progress in its fight against terrorism instead of sanctioning them for performing their constitutional responsibility.

He said; “I have watched the Trust TV documentary severally and I did not see where it glamourised or glorified banditry. In fact, such report can help the government in its fight against terrorism.”

He also stressed the resolve of the guild not to buckle under any circumstance in its duty of defending and promoting the cause of democracy and press freedom in the country.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday imposed a fine of N5 million each on Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV, TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV) and NTA-Startimes Limited for broadcasting a documentary by the BBC Africa Eye titled; “Bandits Warlords Of Zamfara.’’
Trust Television (Trust TV) was also fined N5 million for the broadcast of the documentary titled: “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story” which was aired by the station on March 5, 2022.
NBC disclosed this yesterday in a statement signed by its director general, Balarabe Shehu Illela.
Last Thursday, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said the federal government would sanction Trust TV and BBC for “terrorism glorification” in their documentaries.
Mohammed said the federal government was aware of the “unprofessional” documentary by the BBC, Africa Eye, where interviews where bandit warlords and terror gangs were interviewed, thereby promoting “terror” in the country.

While appreciating the need for educating, informing and enlightening the public on issues bordering on developments and happenings within and outside the country, the commission advised broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of contents deleterious to Nigeria’s national security.

Consequently, the NBC said the airing and carriage of those documentaries contravened provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code sixth edition.

It said the penalties on the broadcast platforms are to be remitted not later than August 30, 2022, and failure to comply would lead to the imposition of a higher sanction as provided in the code.

NBC enjoined broadcasters to be instruments of national unity and desist from falling into antics of using their platforms to promote and glamorise subversive elements and their activities.

Reacting, Trust TV officials said while they were studying the commission’s action and weighing options, they believed they were acting in the public interest by highlighting the thorny issue of banditry and how it is affecting millions of citizens of the country. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million each on Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV, TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV) and NTA-Startimes Limited for broadcasting a documentary by the BBC Africa Eye titled; “Bandits Warlords Of Zamfara.’’
Trust Television (Trust TV) was also fined N5 million for the broadcast of the documentary titled: “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story” which was aired by the station on March 5, 2022.
NBC disclosed this yesterday in a statement signed by its director general, Balarabe Shehu Illela.
Last Thursday, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said the federal government would sanction Trust TV and BBC for “terrorism glorification” in their documentaries.
Mohammed said the federal government was aware of the “unprofessional” documentary by the BBC, Africa Eye, where interviews where bandit warlords and terror gangs were interviewed, thereby promoting “terror” in the country.
While appreciating the need for educating, informing and enlightening the public on issues bordering on developments and happenings within and outside the country, the commission advised broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of contents deleterious to Nigeria’s national security.
Consequently, the NBC said the airing and carriage of those documentaries contravened provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code sixth edition.
It said the penalties on the broadcast platforms are to be remitted not later than August 30, 2022, and failure to comply would lead to the imposition of a higher sanction as provided in the code.

NBC enjoined broadcasters to be instruments of national unity and desist from falling into antics of using their platforms to promote and glamorise subversive elements and their activities.

Reacting, Trust TV officials said while they were studying the commission’s action and weighing options, they believed they were acting in the public interest by highlighting the thorny issue of banditry and how it is affecting millions of citizens of the country.