Insecurity: NBC slams N5m sanctions on erring TV platforms
By Tom Okpe
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), on Wednesday, imposed a five million Naira (5,000,000.00) sanction each on Multichoice Nigeria Ltd, DSTV, TelCom Satellite Ltd, (TSTV) and NTA Startimes Ltd for promoting documentary by the BBC Africa EYE, titled, ‘War Lords of Zamfara’ thereby, glorifying activities of banditry, undermining national security.
Also, Trust-TV Network Limited was fined five million Naira (N5, 000,000.00) for its documentary titled: “Nigeria Banditry, the Inside Story.”
The Director General, NBC, Mallam Shehu Balarabe Ilelah, in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, appreciated the need of educating, informing, and enlightening the public on issues bordering on developments and happenings within and outside the country, DailyTimesNGR gathered.
He said: “The Commission wishes to seize this opportunity to advise broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of contents deleterious to Nigeria’s National security.
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“Consequently, the airing and carriage of these documentaries, contravened the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Sixth edition, especially, Sections: 3.1(1) which says, “No broadcast shall encourage, or incite crime, lead to public disorder or hate, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally, be disrespectful to human dignity”;
- 12 (2) which says: “The broadcast shall not transmit a programme that incites or likely to invite violence among the populace, causing mass panic, security breach and general social disorder; and section 3, 11 (2) which explains that “The broadcast shall ensure that law enforcement is upheld at all times in a manner depicting that law and order are socially superior to, or more desirable than crime anarchy.”
The DG added: “Imposed penalties on these Broadcast Media platforms and Station is to be remitted not later than August 30, 2022. Failure to comply with this will lead to the imposition of a higher sanction as provided in the Code.
“Broadcasters are enjoined to be instruments of National unity and desist from falling into antics of using their platforms to promote and glamorize subversive elements and their activities.
“Please note that every Broadcast Station or platform is responsible for the Content it transmits or transmitted on its platform, and shall be held liable for any content in violation of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code”.
