Tag: National Broadcasting Commission

Appeal Court upholds ban on NBC’s power to fine broadcast stations

Aminu Imam
A'Court on NBC

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) against the judgement barring it from imposing fines on broadcast stations. Oyejoju Oyewumi, who led the three-member panel, yesterday ruled that the NBC’s appeal lacked merit. Other justices on the panel are Abba Bello Mohammed and Donatus Uwaezuoke Okorowo. In a unanimous verdict, Oyewumi held that the NBC cannot challenge the judgement at the court of appeal, having failed to contest the suit at the federal high court. Recall that on March 1,…

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Digital Switch Over (DSO): Local Set-Top Box manufacturers express concern over planned wrong utilization of NBCs N10bn grant

Aminu Imam
Broadcasting

Aminu Imam The prolonged and troubled journey towards Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) in broadcasting has once again come under scrutiny in light of the recent N10billion grant by the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC). The Set Top Box Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (STBMAN), represented by its Chairman, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, has voiced strong concerns regarding Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO)projects direction, attributing the delays to either corruption or incompetence within the responsible agencies. At a recent press conference held in Abuja, the STBMAN highlighted the significant challenges that have hindered…

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Just In! NBC revokes Silverbird, AIT, Others, Broadcast Licences
Orders immediate shutdown

Aminu Imam

The National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), has revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM, amongst others, over failure to renew their broadcast licences. According to an issued press statement by the NBC on Friday, it stated that the move followed the publication of a list of stations yet to renew their licences. According to the Commission, a two-week waiver was given to them in May to do so, after which they risked the revocation of their broadcast licences. But three months after the publication, NBC…

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NBC fines Pay TV platforms N20m over documentary on banditry

Aminu Imam

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million each on MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd., owners of DSTV, TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV), and NTA-StarTimes Ltd, for broadcasting a documentary by the BBC Africa Eye, titled: Bandits Warlords of Zamfara. Trust Television Network (TrustTV) was also fined N5 million for the broadcast of another documentary, titled: Nigerias Banditry: The Inside Story, which was aired by the station on March 5, 2022. The NBC disclosed this in an issued statement, titled: NBC Sanction PayTV Platforms, signed by its director-general, Balarabe…

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Kwara APC ex-chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, heads NBC Board

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), following the expiration of the tenure of the former Board. In a press statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the Board has Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as Chairman. Bolarinwa, a political associate of the minister, is a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State. He was re-elected state chairman in October 2021 at a parallel congress, but the national leadership of…

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NBC grants TV broadcast licence to NYSC

Aminu Imam

The National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), has granted an operational television broadcast licence to the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC). With the license, the NYSC would commence Direct Satellite Broadcasting as well as Internet Protocol Television. The NYSC Director-General, Major-Gen. Shu’aibu Ibrahim, received the broadcast licence from his NBC counterpart, Balarabe Ilelah, in Abuja, yesterday. With the approval, Ilelah said the Federal Government would give more voice to the scheme to tell the NYSC story, especially its tremendous achievements to the whole world. He said that the NYSC, as one of…

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Social media regulation:
‘NBC, DSS can request user details without court order’

Aminu Imam

The documentary framework that will serve as a launchpad for social media regulation in Nigeria vis-a-vis the amendment of the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), Act appears to have been formulated by the Federal Government. Recall that on Tuesday, it was reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was planning to reintroduce the NBC Act amendment) Bill as an Executive Bill in the National Assembly. The Bill seeks to empower the Commission to regulate social media, internet broadcasting, fix tariffs for pay television services, among other functions. Insiders,…

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NBC to establish Institute for Broadcast Policy and Regulation in 2022 DG NBC

Aminu Imam

The Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Shehu Ilelah, has said that the Commission will establish the Institute for Broadcast Policy and Regulations in 2022. Ilelah, who made the disclosure at a news conference yesterday in Abuja, said that the establishment of the Institute would enhance professionalism in the broadcast industry. He said that his Commission had initiated the partnership with National Universities Commission, (NUC) and National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) for broadcast curricular accreditation at the nations tertiary institutions. Preparations for the establishment of Institute for Broadcast Policy…

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Bill to regulate broadcasting passes second reading

Aminu Imam

A legislative Bill to regulate the practice of the broadcasting profession in Nigeria has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. Titled A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Regulation and Conduct of the Practice of Broadcasting Profession in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.1150) it is sponsored by Hon. Olaifa Jimoh Aremu. The purpose of the Bill is to establish a regulatory authority to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria, set required academic qualifications and ethical standards for broadcasters, broadcast journalists or broadcasting practitioners. The Bill proposes…

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NBC reads Riot Act to broadcast stations on Anambra election coverage

Aminu Imam

The National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) has warned all broadcast stations to ensure that their broadcast during the Anambra State governorship election does not contain anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity, or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign State. The warning was contained in an issued statement made available to newsmen in Abuja signed by the director-general, Balarabe Ilelah, who also urged broadcast stations to avert language or scenes likely to encourage or incite crime, or lead to disorder, is not broadcast. The NBC…

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