…As FG hails Ramalan’s leadership, security reforms
The Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria, (IBAN), has rolled out an ambitious strategic roadmap to revitalise Nigeria’s broadcast industry, as the Federal Government commended the association’s chairman, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, for his leadership and contribution to national development.
Speaking at IBAN’s 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja on Thursday, Ramalan presented a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at strengthening regulation, boosting industry capacity, and unlocking Nigeria’s estimated $25 billion media economy.
He noted that IBAN, which controls 65% of the country’s media market, has the potential to create up to 2.7 million new jobs by 2026 if supported with the right policies.
Ramalan expressed gratitude to members, regulators and partners for their continued confidence in IBAN’s leadership, saying the association remains committed to building a more efficient and globally competitive broadcast ecosystem. He announced that the Minister of Information has approved a tripartite meeting involving IBAN, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to develop new ministerial regulations that will strengthen industry sustainability.
The IBAN Chairman also called for an urgent review of the National Broadcasting Code (6th Edition) to align with emerging administrative and technological realities ahead of drafting the 7th Edition and revising the National Broadcasting Act. He stressed that collaboration among media owners is now a strategic necessity, urging operators to reform business models and reclaim Nigeria’s media economy from operational bottlenecks.
On national security, Ramalan emphasised that independent broadcast media remain critical to combating insecurity and insurgency. He revealed that IBAN will soon pay a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to propose structured deployment of private broadcast platforms for awareness creation, dialogue and national cohesion.
This year’s AGM – tagged: ‘Leveraging the Broadcasting Landscape to Safeguard Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty, Communications Infrastructure and Digital Security’ – is expected to evolve into a national action plan in the coming weeks.
Ramalan also announced IBAN’s partnership with the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Award (NBMA) for its 2026 edition at the National Theatre, Lagos, and plans for IBAN’s National Broadcasters Conference 2026 in Abuja.
At a parallel session of the conference, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended Ramalan for advancing national development and strengthening the country’s media landscape. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting reliable, responsible and patriotic media capable of defending Nigeria’s information space from foreign interference and disinformation.
Idris noted that the conference theme aligns with the Tinubu administration’s agenda to deepen public trust, fortify national dialogue, and promote truth-based communication. He highlighted recent security reforms, including the conviction of a senior ISWAP commander, as evidence of improved intelligence and prosecution systems.
The Minister warned against foreign narratives portraying Nigeria as intolerant, describing such reports as divisive and rooted in disinformation. He urged media organisations to intensify the fight against fake news, deep fakes and digital manipulation, while investing in newsroom verification systems.
Reaffirming the government’s dedication to media freedom, Idris stressed the need for collaboration between the state and independent broadcasters to protect Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. He praised Ramalan for his “exemplary leadership and commitment to national progress”, and pledged deeper government–IBAN cooperation to uphold transparency, fairness and effective public communication.
