…Urges President Tinubu to intervene
Aminu Imam
A Coalition of concerned Northern Nigerian media stakeholders has made a pressing call to President Bola Tinubu to address the alleged unlicensed operations of a foreign-owned broadcast outfit, Arewa24TV, accused of undermining the region’s indigenous private TV channels.
The Coalition, the Northern Peoples United to Save the Region, (NPUSR), raised the alarm over what it describes as ‘a glaring regulatory failure’ by allowing the unlicensed foreign-owned television station, Arewa24TV , to operate freely while indigenous private broadcasters struggle under strict government regulations.
The group, in an issued statement signed by AbdulHamid Sani Fagge on its behalf, raised serious concerns over the collusion between Arewa24 and the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), whom it accused of colluding with Arewa24 by turning a blind eye to its alleged illegal operations and acting as an “underground legal adviser” to the channel.
It highlighted that Arewa24 is operating without obtaining the necessary licenses from the NBC and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
According to the statement, “Despite numerous complaints from Northern Nigerians about the channel’s negative impact on local culture and children, regulatory authorities, including the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, (FCCPC), have reportedly ignored the concerns”.
The Coalition questioned why regulatory authorities allow a foreign company to operate without adhering to local broadcasting laws, including local content policies, and carting away an estimated 95% of advertising revenue meant for indigenous broadcasters, while indigenous broadcasters are required to meet strict licensing conditions.
“Can any Nigerian investor dare this in the US or Europe?” the statement queried, decrying what it called “an unequal playing field” in the country’s media industry.
The NPUSR described the Northern Nigerian broadcast media landscape as “fraught with landmines”, citing the collapse of several indigenous broadcast outfits due to unfair competition and regulatory failures.
“The Northern Nigerian broadcast media landscape is already struggling, with many indigenous stations closing down due to harsh economic realities. Yet, Arewa24, an unlicensed foreign entity, continues to dominate the airwaves, capturing over 95% of advertising revenue meant for the Northern audience”, it further stated.
The Group further lamented that the NBC Director-General has compromised his regulatory role, enabling the illegal operations of Arewa24 and protecting the channel from accountability. This, they claim, constitutes a grave violation of national interest and an abuse of regulatory power.
The group also lamented that the liberalization of the broadcast media, intended to foster investment, employment, and societal development, has been undermined by the unchecked operations of illegal entities such as Arewa24. It also drew attention to the economic implications of its operations, accusing the channel of repatriating profits off-shore without contributing to Nigeria’s development.
The Coalition challenged the regulatory bodies to enforce their mandates and protect the interests of local broadcasters, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
It, therefore, urged President Tinubu to intervene, calling on him to hold the Director-General of the NBC accountable and to ensure a level-playing field for all broadcasters in the country, by ensuring compliance with national broadcasting laws and protecting local media enterprises.
In conclusion, NPUSR reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Northern Nigeria’s cultural and economic interests, urging the Government to take decisive action against illegal broadcast operations and to support indigenous media outlets. They also warned that allowing foreign media dominance without proper oversight could undermine national economic growth and local-content policies.
While the NBC is yet to officially respond to the allegations, stakeholders await President Tinubu’s response and potential regulatory reforms to address the .
Industry watchers are keenly observing whether the Federal Government will take action to address the growing concerns of indigenous broadcasters in Northern Nigeria on the alleged injustices in Nigeria’s broadcast media industry.
