Panic hits media industry as govt set to shut down radio, TV stations September 15

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced its intention to shut down some radio and television stations.

The affected stations are those owing licensing fees.

Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, the director general, said any broadcasting station that failed to devise a payment plan before September 15 would be shut down.

Modibbo, who spoke on Monday, said broadcasting stations owe N4.3 billion.

According to him, there was an agreement between the stakeholders and the NBC in February 2017 on how to recover the debt, but they reneged on the agreement.

He said that it would not be ideal to mention the broadcasting stations due to the relationship between the parties, and the fact that the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and NBC would be meeting.

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“There will be a consultative meeting between BON and NBC,” he said.

“Stations must try to regularise or work on a payment plan. The truth of the matter is if there is nothing definite done by trying to pay the money owed NBC we are going to close down quite a number of radio and television stations.

“Especially because we know that a lot of them are targeting elections and the money they will make.

“We will make it impossible for them to make that money because if they do not pay their licensing fees, then they have no right to enjoy any freebies from elections.”

The DG also spoke on the issue of sanctions on various broadcasting stations, saying that broadcasting ethics stress that the peace and unity of the country should be paramount.

He said that in a situation where the ethical boundaries have been breached at various times by a broadcasting station, such a station would be sanctioned or shut down as the case may be.

 

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