NBC has announced it will shut down any station found using its platform to undermine peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. The National Broadcasting Commission, as the Body in charge of Broadcast Stations, is placing its foot down on maintaining peaceful and unbiased dissemination of information.
This was made in a statement following a meeting with NBC’s Director-general Balarabe Ilelah and the broadcast stations regarding coverage of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Further violations of the Broadcast Act will not be tolerated, according to the regulator.
Saying, it would not hesitate to revoke the licenses of broadcasting stations that threaten the peace of the country.
The statement reads,
“NBC is giving its last warning to broadcast stations and will not hesitate to shut or revoke the license of any when convinced its activities are capable of undermining the peaceful coexistence of the country
“Any further branches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and Act will no longer be tolerated.”
“In as much as the commission believes in the freedom of expression, it is also seriously constrained to act decisively on any broadcaster that exploits the fragile peace of our nation,” the statement added.
The commission noted that it followed the coverage of the elections by some broadcast stations. Some of which availed unpatriotic individuals their platforms to make subversive, hateful, and inciting utterances, particularly post-election.
The NBC enjoined broadcast stations to avoid the promotion of negative conversations. Especially since they are not only dangerous to democracy but posed threats to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
cc: Punch Ng
