NBC shuts down AIT, Ray Power FM indefinitely
The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended indefinitely the
license of Daar Communications Plc, owners of Africa Independent Television
(AIT) and Ray Power.
The Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, who made this known to
journalists this evening, said the ban is as a result of the broadcasting
station's failure to abide by the broadcasting code.
Below is the statement from NBC
“Following monitoring reports and complaints from concerned
Nigerians about the broadcast contents of Daar Communications Plc’s
AIT/Raypower broadcast stations, the NBC have over the last 2 years
summoned on several occasions management of the company to
address issues regarding the operations of AIT/Raypower with the
company, particularly, Political Platform and Kakaaki aired on AIT,” he
said.
“In one of our meetings, held on 2nd June, 2017, the Commission
expressed its disappointment with the way and manner Hate Speech,
divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national
issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.
“Again, on 15th August, 2017, it became imperative to invite the
company for yet another meeting on almost same issues.
Furthermore, while addressing another meeting on 7th February, 2018
we highlighted issues of concern to the Commission which indicated
that the company had been breaching the provisions of Sections
3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of the broadcast Code. The company’s delegates in
their response promised to abate the breaches and comply with the
law.
“However, on October 18, 2018, the Commission was disturbed with
the manner in which social media issues became part of the
mainstream media unedited on AIT/Raypower, and was constrained
to issue a generic letter to all broadcast stations on.
“Instead of making amends, the management of Daar
Communications Plc resorted to the use of media propaganda against
the regulator. Even the letters from the NBC were posted on social
media platforms,” he said.
“Needless to state that Daar Communications have over the years
turned themselves into a bad example of how a professional
broadcast outfit should not be run.
“In their relationship with the NBC, Daar Communications carry on, as
if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the Commission. They don’t
pay their licence fees as and when due.
“Its broadcast is patently partisan and one sided and deliberately
inciting and heating the polity. The management of the Company has
created the habit of using the channel to fight its personal battles
contrary to the statutory requirements of the law.
“Today the 6th of June, 2019, AIT/Rapower embarked on use of
inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda
against the government and, the NBC for performing its statutory
functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
“Consequently, after several meetings with management of Daar
Communications Plc and many letters of warning. The NBC, today 6th
June, 2019 took a decision to suspend the licence of Daar
Communications Plc for failure to abide by the Commission’s
directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11
“The SHUT DOWN order is until further notice.” Kawu said
Earlier today, the chairman of the station, Raymond Dokpesi, held a press
conference where he accused President Buhari of using the NBC to victimize
him.
“I have it on strict authority and very assured information that the
highest echelons of government, the Presidency, queried and
challenged the NBC that they were not doing their jobs: ‘How on earth
could they be hearing and seeing on AIT what they termed hate
speech?’
“Any criticism of this government is hate speech. The NBC is acting
under the authority of the President and Commander-in-Chief. The
licensing fees in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. There is no
country in the world where you have this type of exploitative fees. I
have appealed for a reduction because the payments cannot be
sustained by private broadcasters in Nigeria.
“This economy has plummeted. This government has called this
organisation unprintable names which has deterred several advertisers
from patronising AIT. I sought an audience with the NBC DG. I called,
sent letters and sent text messages to him, but he refused. In spite of
the fact that we have to run generators 24-hours of the day, I remain
committed to keeping the spirit of broadcasting alive,” Dokpesi said at
the press conference
license of Daar Communications Plc, owners of Africa Independent Television
(AIT) and Ray Power.
The Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, who made this known to
journalists this evening, said the ban is as a result of the broadcasting
station's failure to abide by the broadcasting code.
Below is the statement from NBC
“Following monitoring reports and complaints from concerned
Nigerians about the broadcast contents of Daar Communications Plc’s
AIT/Raypower broadcast stations, the NBC have over the last 2 years
summoned on several occasions management of the company to
address issues regarding the operations of AIT/Raypower with the
company, particularly, Political Platform and Kakaaki aired on AIT,” he
said.
“In one of our meetings, held on 2nd June, 2017, the Commission
expressed its disappointment with the way and manner Hate Speech,
divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national
issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.
“Again, on 15th August, 2017, it became imperative to invite the
company for yet another meeting on almost same issues.
Furthermore, while addressing another meeting on 7th February, 2018
we highlighted issues of concern to the Commission which indicated
that the company had been breaching the provisions of Sections
3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of the broadcast Code. The company’s delegates in
their response promised to abate the breaches and comply with the
law.
“However, on October 18, 2018, the Commission was disturbed with
the manner in which social media issues became part of the
mainstream media unedited on AIT/Raypower, and was constrained
to issue a generic letter to all broadcast stations on.
“Instead of making amends, the management of Daar
Communications Plc resorted to the use of media propaganda against
the regulator. Even the letters from the NBC were posted on social
media platforms,” he said.
“Needless to state that Daar Communications have over the years
turned themselves into a bad example of how a professional
broadcast outfit should not be run.
“In their relationship with the NBC, Daar Communications carry on, as
if it is beyond the regulatory direction of the Commission. They don’t
pay their licence fees as and when due.
“Its broadcast is patently partisan and one sided and deliberately
inciting and heating the polity. The management of the Company has
created the habit of using the channel to fight its personal battles
contrary to the statutory requirements of the law.
“Today the 6th of June, 2019, AIT/Rapower embarked on use of
inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda
against the government and, the NBC for performing its statutory
functions of regulating the broadcast industry in Nigeria.
“Consequently, after several meetings with management of Daar
Communications Plc and many letters of warning. The NBC, today 6th
June, 2019 took a decision to suspend the licence of Daar
Communications Plc for failure to abide by the Commission’s
directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11
“The SHUT DOWN order is until further notice.” Kawu said
Earlier today, the chairman of the station, Raymond Dokpesi, held a press
conference where he accused President Buhari of using the NBC to victimize
him.
“I have it on strict authority and very assured information that the
highest echelons of government, the Presidency, queried and
challenged the NBC that they were not doing their jobs: ‘How on earth
could they be hearing and seeing on AIT what they termed hate
speech?’
“Any criticism of this government is hate speech. The NBC is acting
under the authority of the President and Commander-in-Chief. The
licensing fees in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. There is no
country in the world where you have this type of exploitative fees. I
have appealed for a reduction because the payments cannot be
sustained by private broadcasters in Nigeria.
“This economy has plummeted. This government has called this
organisation unprintable names which has deterred several advertisers
from patronising AIT. I sought an audience with the NBC DG. I called,
sent letters and sent text messages to him, but he refused. In spite of
the fact that we have to run generators 24-hours of the day, I remain
committed to keeping the spirit of broadcasting alive,” Dokpesi said at
the press conference
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