The broadcast regulatory body particularly called on foreign
broadcasters who have offices in Nigeria who beam their signals into the
country to come forth for registration with the Commission within 30 days.
Director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Balarabe Ilelah, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, at the presentation of
provisional approvals to newly approved licensees.
Recently, president Muhammadu Buhari last week approved 67
additional licenses.
Ilelah also reminded licensees that were yet to pay their
outstanding debts to hurriedly pay or have their licences revoked for illegal
broadcasting.
He said presidential approval was a testimonial that
President Buhari yearns for media pluralism and freedom of expression.
Ilelah urged the new licensees to complement the gesture by
promoting Nigeria’s democratic values, national unity, and cultural heritage.
“You are also required to reciprocate the gesture by putting
the license into use within the timeframe provided and act responsibly and in
accordance with the Act, Code, and other extant laws guiding broadcasting in
Nigeria.
“Pay attention to safeguarding the peaceful coexistence of
Nigeria through your broadcast.
“This is in addition to promoting and sustaining the
Nigeria’s diverse culture by ensuring diversity in programming content for the
Nigeria’s widest audience.
“Most importantly however is to promote Nigerian content and
encourage the production and projection of Nigerian life, hence try to achieve
100 per cent local content,” he said.
He also called on IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and
all other broadcast stations that are streaming online to register with the
Commission to avoid disconnection and prosecution.
Ilelah said broadcasters should note that having a DTT or FM
license does not warrant a broadcaster to stream online, because they are two
different licenses.
“I will also call on foreign broadcasters who have offices
in Nigeria and they beam their signals into the country to come forth for
registration with the Commission within 30 days.
“I must state that NBC is determined to collaborate with
security agencies to clamp down on illegal broadcasters in the country. At this
juncture, I will like to remind our licensees that are yet to pay their
outstanding debts to hurriedly pay or have their licences revoked for illegal
broadcasting.
“Therefore, refusal to pay is an economic sabotage and the
Commission will have no option than to collaborate with security and
anti-corruption agencies to redeem the debts,” he said.
He added that broadcasters should note that part of the
requirements for the commencement of test transmission henceforth is to send
their staff for training at the newly established Nigeria Broadcast Institute.
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