NBC Approves 67 New Broadcast Stations, Fines 17, Sanctions 302

As part of efforts to move Nigeria towards political, religious pluralism and freedom of expression, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of 67 new radio and television stations.

The director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, who disclosed this while briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja, also reeled out NBC S’scorecard.

He noted that the nation currently has 740 functional broadcast stations in Nigeria.

The commission, he said, has however fined 17 broadcast stations since the commencement of the 2023 presidential campaign in September.

According to him, the commission has also sanctioned 302 for various infringements of the broadcast code.

In all, the NBC warned 196 stations; cautioned 69; queried 13; and referred nine stations to its headquarters across the country.

Ilelah noted that 473 stations were issued licenses by the current administration, adding that President Buhari has approved the independence of NBC from any political interference in the exercise of its regulatory functions, particularly in regards to issuance and withdrawal of broadcasting license.

He said this has helped immensely in the reduction of violations by broadcasters unlike what entailed in the past.

Ilelah, however, called on broadcasters to continue to cooperate with the Commission in abiding by the provisions guiding broadcast operations in Nigeria.

On Digital Switchover (DSO), he said President Buhari has continued to support the digital switchover in spite of inherent implementation challenges.

He noted: “The Commission is currently working on simultaneous delivery of Nigeria to the life-changing experience of digital broadcasting using SIMULCRYPT.

“Against this background, ITS and NTA-Star Nigeria have signed an agreement to actualizing this in the earliest possible time. To rejig DSO, the Board of the Commission has approved licensing the 3rd signal distributor. This is in addition to the existing ones; ITS and Pinnacle.”

He said the commission is making effort to digitise the broadcast license application processes where potential applicants may submit applications from the comforts of their homes.

He said President Buhari has also approved for the Commission to acquire state-of-the-art Nationwide Broadcast Monitoring Equipment.

“Acquisition of the equipment is in the process and if finally acquired the Commission will get to have Ultra Modern Artificial Intelligence-driven Central Monitoring infrastructure,” he said.

He added that the Buhari administration has granted approval for NBC to recruit more staff that will monitor broadcast stations in the nook and cranny.

He said the commission’s drive to further professionalise the broadcasting industry has motivated it to establish the Nigeria Broadcast Institute for the training of industry players.

“I will use this opportunity to call on broadcasters to continue to abide by the NBC Act, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, the Electoral Act, and any extant law that guides media operation as we count down to the general elections.

“The Commission has deployed all the technical and operational facilities for the monitoring of the elections. In order to ensure quality broadcast during elections, no locality in Nigeria where a broadcast station exists that will be left unmonitored during the elections,” the DG added.