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Tag: NBC

  • NBC Sanction: See list of 23 radio stations fined N2.849 million

    NBC Sanction: See list of 23 radio stations fined N2.849 million

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned 23 broadcasting stations for various breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in the third quarter of 2017.

    The Head, Public Affairs, NBC, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, said that the broadcasting stations were fined a total of N2.849 million.

    Jimada said that the contraventions included breaches of the rules on hateful speech, vulgar lyrics and unverifiable claims.

    She said that all the erring stations had been fined according to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    “The commission wishes to remind broadcasters that they have a duty to promote the socio-economic well-being of the Nigerian state and abide strictly by the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code or face sanctions.”

    For the “Use Of Hateful Speech”; Family Love FM, Uyo, was fined N200,000, ABS FM, Enugu-N100,000, Express FM Radio, Kano, N100,000. The latter was also fined twice later for similar infractions.

    Related: NBC sanctions 23 radio stations

    On the “Use Of Indecent Musicals”; Royal FM, Abuja was fined N100,000, FLO FM, Enugu-N100,000, Radio Continental, Lagos-N200,000, Crystal 100.5FM, Abuja-N100,000.

    For “Unverifiable Claims”, a fine of N100,000 was meted on Crowther FM, Abuja, Harmony FM, Abuja-N100,000, Inspiration FM, Uyo-N100,000, BCA FM, Enugu-N150,000, ABS, Enugu-N100,000, Minaj Systems Radio, Enugu-N100,000 and IBC (Orient TV) Enugu N50,000.

    Others are Rainbow FM, Ibadan-N100,000, Globe FM, Jos-N100,000, Arewa Radio, Kaduna-N100,000, EBS Radio, Benin-N100,000 and Bond FM, Lagos-N499,000.

    ITV, Jos was fined N100,000, while IBC (Orient TV), Enugu was sanctioned N50,000 for “Voicing and Unprofessional Broadcast.”

  • Trump threatens NBC over nuclear report

    Trump threatens NBC over nuclear report

    United States President, Donald Trump, has raised the prospect of challenging media licences for NBC News and other news networks after unfavourable reports.

    The President took aim at NBC, which made him a star on The Apprentice, after it reported he wanted to boost America’s nuclear arsenal almost tenfold.

    The BBC reports that Mr. Trump labelled the report “fake news” and “pure fiction.”

    NBC also angered the White House last week when it said the secretary of state had called Mr. Trump “a moron.”

    Mr. Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning: “With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!”

    Welcoming Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, to Washington later in the day, the U.S president denied the NBC story.

    “It is frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write, and people should look into it,” he said at the White House.

    When asked if he wanted to increase the country’s arsenal, Mr. Trump said he only ever discussed keeping it in “perfect condition.”

    “No, I want to have absolutely perfectly maintained – which we are in the process of doing – nuclear force.

    “But when they said I want 10 times what we have right now, it’s totally unnecessary, believe me.

    “I want modernisation and I want total rehabilitation. It’s got to be in tip-top shape.”

    Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis, also disputed NBC’s story.

    “Recent reports that the President called for an increase in the U.S nuclear arsenal are absolutely false,” he said in a statement.

  • Aquila,NBC seal N2.3b transportation deal

    Aquila Leasing Limited, a world class leasing company has signed a new N2.3billion transportation services contract with Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC).

    In line with its vision of being a world class leasing firm that provides superior solutions through people, innovation and technology, Aquila Leasing has continued to provide fleet management solutions to NBC and other clients operating within the country.

    Aquila Leasing, through the new contract will continue to provide cutting edge service delivery to the biggest non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing company in the country.

    This clearly indicates the confidence that NBC has in the management of Aquila Leasing and the huge business potential within the Nigerian Leasing Industry.

    NBC is the franchise bottler for products of the Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria, and a member of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.

     The signing of the contract would further boost NBC’s continued empowerment of indigenous companies.

  • Hate speech: FG will not stifle the Press – Minister

    Hate speech: FG will not stifle the Press – Minister

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the Federal Government will not make any law or directive that will stifle the press in its ongoing fight against hate speech and fake news.

    The Minister gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos when he paid a working visit to the Headquarters of TV Continental (TVC)

    Mohammed described as fake news, the alleged directive from National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regulating phone-in programmes and Newspaper review on TV and radio programmes.

    He said there was no directive whatsoever from NBC or his office to any media house, regulating phone-in programmes and newspaper review as reported in the media.

    The Minister recalled that there was a brainstorming meeting among stakeholders including NBC, media owners and others in Lagos where issues affecting the industry were discussed.

    He said it was one of the participants at the meeting that leaked out the issues raised, which were never adopted as government directive or policies.

    Mohammed reiterated that “no government that stifles the press, ever succeeds” and the Federal Government will not make laws or issue directive to gag the media.

    He said the position of the government has been and still remains that the industry should regulate itself.

    He, therefore, underscored the need for media houses to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the dictates of their guiding codes to check the alarming rate of hate speech and fake news.

    He said many Nigerians relied on newspaper review on radio and TV as their source of news daily and such review should, therefore, be done from the holistic perspective.

    The minister also underscored the need for media houses to regulate the calls received during phone-in programmes to checkmate opportunists from using such avenue for hate speech.

    The Minister said that the Government would not make any new laws to tackle the challenge of hate speech because there are enough provisions for it.

    He said the Anti-Terrorism Act 2011 defines hate speech amongst others, as an act deliberately done with malice and which may seriously harm or damage a country or seriously intimidate a population.

    Reacting to why there was upsurge in incidents of hate speech and fake news in the country, the Minister said that the purveyors were being paid with stolen funds to whittle down the anti corruption stance of the government.

    He added that the upsurge was also about the 2019 general elections, to whittle down the many achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    He reiterated that no amount of hatred would obliterate the solid achievements recorded by the Administration.

    The Chief Executive Officer of TVC, Mr Andrew Hanlon thanked the Minister for the visit.

    NAN reports that the Minister also featured on a live interview programme of the station.

  • Moral decadence: NBC bans five songs from airwaves

    Moral decadence: NBC bans five songs from airwaves

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned five trending Hip-hop songs by Nigerians from being aired on radio and television henceforth.

    The songs which have been tagged “Not to be Broadcast” by the Commission include ‘Wo’ and ‘Wavy Level’ by Olamide Adedeji, simple called Olamide; ‘Fall’ and ‘If’ (Remix) by David Adeleke, aka Davido; and ‘Living Things’ by Abolore Akande, aka 9ice.

    The NBC stated on Tuesday that it was banning the five songs from being aired further across the Nigerian airwaves.

    The songs and others like them have been criticised by many on social media for allegedly promoting bad morals through their lyrics.

    Recall that the Ministry of Health had earlier claimed that the video to Olamide’s ‘Wo’ violates the Tobacco Control Act 2015.

    Fellow singer Folarin Falana, aka Falz had also come under attack for criticising 9ice’s ‘Living Things’. The song is said to be laced with innuendos that promote internet fraud.

    Last year, the NBC also banned Olamide’s ‘Shakiti Bobo’ and ‘Don’t Stop’, saying it contained vulgar lyrics.

  • Fanta, Vitamin C: ‘NBC must withdraw product now’

    Fanta, Vitamin C: ‘NBC must withdraw product now’

    The Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie has insisted that taking Vitamin C with Fanta and sprite soft drink could cause cancer and other health illness.

    He expressed concern over the non-compliance with the order of a Lagos High Court mandating the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to compel NBC to include a written warning that it would be dangerous to take the contents of the soft drinks with Vitamin C.

    He said the 90 days given by the court has since expired and that the NBC should have withdrawn the products until all the issues were resolved.

    Speaking at a press briefing at the university senate chambers, he said that it was worrisome that nothing had changed since the order from the court mandating NAFDAC to compel the Nigeria bottling company (NBC) to do the needful, adding that it was wrong for organizations to place profit ahead of human safety.

    Prof. Izevbigie, said that the institution stood by its research findings on the danger of taking Vitamin C with benzoic acid as in Fanta and Sprite, saying it was done in line with the mandate given to the University to impact knowledge, research and service to the country.

    “It is the university that should serve as an umpire. It is about us to give our expert opinion.”

    He explained that the review of the Scientific literature which examined the effect of temperature (20 o C, 60 o C and 100 o C) on the conversion of Benzoic acid to benzene shows, “an increase in benzene formation of as the temperature increased from 20 degree Celsius to 60 degree Celsius by approximately three fold (300%) in the absence of Vitamin C, and tenfold (1000%) in the presence of Vitamin C in 24 hours. It cannot be concluded the formation of benzene does not occur at 30 o C and 40 o C”.

    He said the colourant used in Fanta, the yellow sunset, had been implicated in cytotoxicity, carcinogenesis, allergies and hyper activity in children when the right amount is not used.

    On benzoic acid, he said the Federal Ministry of Health has explanation to give on the reason why standard given for it in soft drinks was put at 250mg/kg as opposed to 150mg/kg that was obtainable in the United Kingdom and Ghana.

    He further said that azo dyes do not occur in nature, they metabolise due to the presence of azo reductase enzymes in the body, which reduce the azo group to produce two compounds with amino groups.

    Prof Izevbigie, who noted that though the Nigerian standard was high owing to high temperature and that it still falls within the international standard, said pasteurization and the use of carbon dioxide can achieve the same goal as the use of high benzoic acid without the added health risks.

    He urged NAFDAC to live up to its responsibility in scientific research and regulation, adding that the issue of human safety must override business profit.

    He recommended a “reduction of the sodium benzoate concentration to below 150mg/kg, a removal of Vitamin C as an ingredient in Fanta due to concern for benzene toxicity and the use of natural dye as a replacement for the colourant in Fanta.”

  • Minister clears air on purported plan to ban videos shot abroad

    Minister clears air on purported plan to ban videos shot abroad

    Reacting to criticism arising from his recent statement that ‘any programme to be consumed by Nigerians must be produced in Nigeria’, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said on Wednesday that he has been misunderstood by critics.
    ”I didn’t say that henceforth, all music videos and films will be produced in Nigeria, or that the production of music videos or films outside Nigeria will be banned. All I said was that if a programme is designated as a Nigerian (local) content programme, we will amend the Code to ensure that it is produced in Nigeria,” he said, adding: ”On that, there is no going back.”

    Mohammed who said he was not appointed Minister to develop the economy of other countries at the expense of the Nigerian economy, pointed out that the creative industry’s potential of creating 1 million jobs in three years cannot be realized if jobs meant for Nigerians are being exported to other countries under the guise of producing, in other countries, programmes to be consumed in Nigeria.

    The Minister recalled how his office was bombarded with calls from concerned Nigerians when the last edition of the ”Big Brother Naija” was produced in South Africa, saying he subsequently directed the National Broadcasting Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

    ”Following the findings, we decided to amend the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to prevent a repeat of that development. We are now in the process of doing that, so that anyone who intends to produce a reality show or similar programmes for Nigerians cannot take the production of such shows outside Nigeria.

    ”Nigerians are a very proud and resourceful people, and we are sure that no Nigerian will be against a decision to prevent the jobs that can be done in Nigeria by Nigerians from being exported to other countries,” he said.

    In a related development, Alhaji Mohammed has said the Broadcasting Code is also being amended to help develop the local football league.

    ”This (amendment) is not just about the Creative Industry. We are also going to ensure that the NBC Code is amended in a manner that if any company in Nigeria today invests a million dollars in promoting or supporting any (football) team or league outside Nigeria, I want the Broadcasting Code to be amended to the effect that it will not allow that programme to be aired unless that company supports the Nigerian League with a percentage that will not be less than 30 per cent of what was spent.

    ”This is because we cannot continue to develop the economies of the other parts of the world from the sweat of Nigerians and at the expense of the Nigerian economy,” the Minister said.

  • Firm advises NBC to review business model

    Firm advises NBC to review business model

    The General Manager of Integrated Television Services (ITS), one of the signal distribution companies for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) and handlers of the Ilorin switch over project, Mr. Musbau Rotimi Salami, has called for the review of the business model put in place by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Salami, who spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, during the visit of the National Assembly Ad-Hoc committee on DSO to inspect the progress of digital installation work on the NTA premises, said the review of the existing business model was imperative to allow for equitable benefits for operators and stakeholders.

    He said: “Already the Minister of Information and Culture has called for a review of it. We are eagerly awaiting the review as this will discourage the current situation where those who operate at the fringes and contribute minimally from reaping so much at the detriment of the major stakeholders.”

    The ITS boss added that the equipment used at the Ilorin centre was not substandard. He said such complaints were misplaced and a lack of understanding of the technology behind the equipment used. “Everything used for the Ilorin switch over installation have met standard as specified by Digiteam / NBC for dvbt2,” he said, adding that technology  in the broadcast industry is dynamic.

    Salam appealled to Nigerians to put the nation first in every aspect of business relationship. “We must ensure that national interests come first above personal and parochial interests. Integrated Television Services is conscious of the history behind it and will work to protect the interest of the Nigerian television consumers and the entire broadcasting industry in Nigeria”.

    The Kaduna State-born and trained transmitter installation and maintenance engineer expressed confidence that the Ad-Hoc Committee‘s visit to Ilorin would shape the future of digital broadcasting in Nigeria.

    Speaking further on the digital revolution happening in Ilorin through the launch, Salami said the launch would herald a new era of television viewing experience.

    “The Integrated Television Services welcomes the people of Kwara to this digital television service for all. The excitement is just beginning.  It is expected that in the near future, other value added services would commence and we will all be fully integrated to the new world.

    “One of the advantages of digital broadcasting is that it opens up the terrain. You will observe that in Ilorin presently there are only two players available yet for the six places earmarked for local broadcasters.  The onus is now on interested local players with adequate content and pedigree to step up the plate.  The opportunity is there for the taking,”’ he said.

    When fully operational, the ITS will have on its platform over 30 channels on its Free TV bouquet, thus delivering unbeatable state of the art quality television experience and pocket friendly plan to the people of kwara state.

  • NBC rewards schools’debate winners

    The nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has rewarded winners of the Lagos State Schools’ Debate competition.

    First winner, United Senior High School, Ikorodu received N250,000. Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, which emerged second, got N150,000, while Epe Senior Grammar School, which came third, went home with N100,000.

    The grand finale, which held  in Alausa was a partnership between the NBC and the Lagos State government.

    The contest, which had 631 public schools in attendance  – 165 primary schools, 224 junior secondary schools and 243 senior secondary schools  – across the six Education Districts in the state, also featured 34 private schools (10 primary, 12 JSS and 12 SSS).

    NBC’s Legal, Public Affairs and Communication Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan, said the contest was one platform for the beverage firm to showcase its corporate social responsibility.

    “We have decided to sponsor this laudable competition because we believe that corporate organisations should focus on listening to, celebrating and rewarding future leaders. This is why we are always found setting the pace,” Morgan said.

    Morgan noted that the NBC makes significant investment in education through provision and upgrade of education infrastructure nationwide, in addition to capacity building across all levels of education as well as other support initiatives.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communities and Communication, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the contest formed part of activities to commemorate the state’s Golden Jubilee celebration.

    He said: “It is said children are the leading message we send at a time we will not see. This, therefore, is one of the many avenues we have provided for you to display your mental abilities not just as children, but also as tomorrow’s leaders. I urge you not to relent in reading books and articles that will help to widen your horizon and help improve your communication skills.’’

    “I am impressed by the performances that have been displayed from the preliminaries to this final stage. It is another statement to our effort aimed at improving the standards of our public education system. In this competition there are no losers. Given the standards that have been displayed, I consider you all as winners, congratulations!’’

    He added: “On our part as a government of the people, we will continue to provide conducive environment and other facilities that will enhance teaching and learning. We will give you the support needed in terms of proving qualitative education so that our children can achieve your dreams of becoming whatever you want to become in life.  I want to appreciate all the teachers that are committed to ensuring that our vision for the education sector is realised. Your dedication and hard work will not go unrewarded,” he added.

  • NBC rewards schools’ debate winners

    The nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has rewarded winners of the Lagos State Schools’ Debate competition.

    United Senior High School, Ikorodu, topped all the contenders with N250,000 cash reward. Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege emerged second, winning N150,000, while Epe Senior Grammar School, which came third, went home with N100,000.

    The grand finale, which held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, was a partnership between the NBC and the Lagos State government.

    The contest, which had 631 public schools in attendance (165 primary schools, 224 junior secondary schools and 243 senior secondary schools) across the six Education Districts in the state, also featured 34 private schools (10 primary, 12 JSS and 12 SSS).

    NBC’s Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan, said the competition was one platform for the beverage firm to showcase its corporate social responsibility.

    “We have decided to sponsor this laudable competition because we believe that corporate organisations should focus on listening to, celebrating and rewarding future leaders. This is why we are always found setting the pace,” Morgan stated.

    Morgan noted that the NBC makes significant investment in education through provision and upgrade of education infrastructure nationwide, in addition to capacity building across all levels of education as well as other support initiatives.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communities and Communication Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the competition formed part of activities to commemorate the state’s Golden Jubilee celebration.

    He said: “It is said that children are the leading message we send at a time we will not see. This, therefore, is one of the many avenues we have provided for you to display your mental abilities not just as children, but also as tomorrow’s leaders. I urge you not to relent in reading books and articles that will help to widen your horizon and help improve your communication skills.

    “I am impressed by the performances that have been displayed from the preliminaries to this final stage. It is another statement to our effort aimed at improving the standards of our public education system. In this competition there are no losers. Given the standards that have been displayed, I consider you all as winners, congratulations!

    “On our part as a government of the people, we will continue to provide conducive environment and other facilities that will enhance teaching and learning. We will give you the support needed in terms of proving qualitative education so that our children can achieve your dreams of becoming whatever you want to become in life.  I want to appreciate all the teachers that are committed to ensuring that our vision for the education sector is realised. Your dedication and hard work will not go unrewarded,” he added.