The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to actively engage stakeholders in its operations to prevent violations of the broadcasting code.
Alhaji Idris made this appeal during a one-day working visit to the NBC’s headquarters in Abuja. He emphasized the importance of changing the prevailing perception that the NBC is primarily associated with imposing sanctions and fines on broadcasters.
The minister stated, “I don’t believe that NBC is all about sanctions. Each time NBC is in the news, it’s about a station committing one infraction or another. But I think beyond that, we need to look from within. We need a lot of public enlightenment. On this, I think public communication in this regard is a bit low.”
Idris highlighted the need for increased public awareness to help the public understand the broader role of the NBC, not just as an enforcer of penalties but also as a facilitator of industry growth and the realization of broadcasters’ potential.
He commended the ongoing efforts in the National Assembly to amend the NBC’s founding act, stating that certain aspects needed to be reconsidered due to changes in the broadcasting landscape.
The Minister also expressed satisfaction with the NBC’s preparations to host AFRICAST later this month, an event expected to draw participants from Africa and around the world.
Malam Balarabe Ilelah, the Director-General of NBC, provided an overview of the commission’s activities, including its extensive monitoring of broadcasting stations and enforcement actions against erring broadcasters.
He disclosed, “During our monitoring activities, a total of 3,312 warnings were issued in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters of 2022 and 2023. In 2022, a total of 125 stations were penalized. In 2023, a total of 1,238 warnings were given, while during the same year, 62 stations were penalized.”
Regarding the Digital Switch Over, Ilelah noted the commission’s efforts to transition Nigeria to digital broadcasting and facilitate agreements between key stakeholders to achieve this goal.
The Director-General also mentioned the issue of broadcasters’ outstanding debts, totaling over three billion naira. He highlighted the commission’s measures to address this, including publishing a list of indebted license holders and revoking licenses for those who failed to settle their debts.
Ilelah mentioned that the NBC had encountered legal challenges related to its enforcement activities, but they had appealed such cases. He also reported a recent court judgment affirming the NBC’s authority to impose fines on erring broadcasters.
The NBC is gearing up for Africast 2023, which will be held in Lagos, and the Director-General urged the Minister of Information to support this year’s edition, which is expected to be a significant international event.
During the visit, the Minister and his delegation were given a tour of the NBC’s newly acquired state-of-the-art Nationwide Broadcast Monitoring Equipment, which includes an Ultra Modern Artificial Intelligence-driven system.