The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has revoked the licenses of 52 Television and Radio stations in Nigeria. The Commission stated it has taken the decision due to failure of the affected stations to renew their licenses and clear their debt to the Federal Government despite being warned earlier about the consequences of failing to do so.
The NBC’s Director General, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilehah,while addressing the Press in Abuja on Friday, said 52 stations are found to be operating without a valid license in the country and also owing the commission up to the tune of N2.6 billion. Some of the affected stations mentioned are African Independent Television, Silverbird TV, Reypower Fm, Rythm Fm, Crowther FM and many others. The full list of stations is here.
According to the DG, in May, the commission had published the names of the stations that were yet to renew their licenses and granted them two week’s grace period to do so or otherwise get their license revoked. However, many of them paid lip services to the directive. The DG added that the decision of the commission does not have any political undertone.
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He said, “Three months after the publication, some stations were yet to pay their outstanding debt in contravention to the NBC Act CAP N11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 particularly section 10(a) of the third schedule of the act”.
The DG therefore demanded that all the affected stations should shut down their operations within 24hrs. He enjoined all stations that have not renewed their licenses for the current duration to do so within 30 days to avoid sanctions.
Also, all the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and other broadcast stations that stream online were advised to register with the commission to avoid disconnection.
