The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)

  • Hate Speech: NBC berates APC, PDP

    The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has come hard on the two major political parties in the country for running foul of broadcasting rules.

    NBC’s Director-General, Modibbo Kawu, accused the two main parties the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading hate speeches and using abusive languages during their political rallies and campaign.

    Kawu equally urged the stations to be warry of the code guiding the political broadcasting; warning that NBC will not hesitate to shutdown national television stations that breaches its codes.

    Section 525 of the code states that “political broadcast shall be in decent languages and while section 533 states that “a live coverage shall be truthful, decent, fair and balanced.”

    The NBC boss who briefed the press on the 2019 general elections and update on the digital switchover said the commission had monitored the rallies aired by some television stations in the country and found the comments made by some officials of the two parties of capable of causing crisis in the country.

    He said the commission has noticed some infraction on its codes during campaigns of the two major political parties as aired live in some major channels.

    He said: “With the commencement of electioneering campaigns for the 2019 general elections on the 18th of November based on INEC’s guidelines, the national stations have become agog with sponsored rallies by political parties, particularly the two main political parties – the PDP and the APC, we have observed again, through monitoring of the stations that politicians have refused to learn from the mistakes of the past. Despite efforts by the commission to sensitize and remind them of their responsibilities.

    Read Also: NBC warns politicians against hate speech

    “We monitor live rallies and campaigns of the parties and in recent times, live political rallies of the two parties have been laced with indecent and abusive languages, name calling, allegations and use of hate speech.”

    He cited instances of the chairmen of the two political parties engaging in hate speech, abusive language and name calling.

    “The expressions and languages from the excerpt captured can be seen to be abusive and not decent for broadcast, contrary to certain sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Codes – 525, 533. 525 says ‘political broadcast shall be in decent languages and 533 says ‘a live coverage shall be truthful, decent, fair and balanced.’ We are not getting that and we told our licensees that it is very good to make a lot of money during this period but you will be liable if you allow your medium to be used to broadcast material that is contrary to the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

    “Based on the foregoing, the four major channels that have been broadcasting, were culpable and contravening the provisions of the code on political broadcasting in line with the provisions of Section 524 of the code,” he added.

  • Digitization: Gov Ugwuanyi offers free 10,000 setup boxes

    Digitization: Gov Ugwuanyi offers free 10,000 setup boxes

    Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has offered to distribute 10,000 setup boxes valued N15 million free to low income households in rural areas to enable them access digital television.

    Ugwuanyi made the disclosure in Enugu on Monday at the launch of Digital Switchover in the state by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The governor described the launch as a ‘landmark’ in television broadcasting in Nigeria.

    He said that the gesture was to ensure that low income households were not denied opportunities of accessing digital television contents.

    Ugwuanyi said that the setup boxes which were the major accessory that would, henceforth, enable television viewers in the state watch more channels would be distributed immediately.

    The governor said that the state government was fully conscious of the possible discomfort economically challenged families would face as a result of disruption in accessing free to air television contents.

    “This, in our judgment, is the major reason the Federal Government has committed to subsidise 10 million setup boxes for distribution to poor households in Nigeria,” he said.

    Ugwuanyi said that Enugu had the distinction of being the first state in Southern Nigeria to be switched on to the digital terrestrial television broadcast.

    “As a government, we have intervened on behalf of our people by purchasing 10,000 setup boxes which will be distributed free to low income households identified in our rural areas.

    “Our goal is to enable less economically endowed families to continue to receive even more television channels after this ceremony.

    “The boxes will be distributed after this ceremony in such a manner that it will reach all the 475 autonomous communities in the state,” he said.

    The governor said that local government councils would also cease the opportunity offered by the process to increase the internally generated revenue.

    Ugwuanyi thanked the Information Minister for donating 100 setup boxes to the state government, adding that the boxes would in turn be distributed to security agencies in the state.

    He said that it was gratifying to bid farewell to analogue broadcasting in the state.

    “This underscores the pragmatism the government and leadership of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ) have brought to bear in broadcasting industry,” Ugwuanyi said.

    Earlier, the Director General of the NBC, Mr Is’haq Kawu said that the digital switchover would enhance the broadcast value chain and open up jobs for Nigerians.

    Kawu said that the switchover would afford television viewers watch new generation of Nigerian contents.

    The DG said that it would also address poor reception of television signals especially in rural areas.

    The highlight of the event was the official switchover from analogue to digital television broadcasting at the Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA ) in Enugu by Ugwuanyi in company of the minister and NBC DG.

    Nigeria as a member of International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ) had in 2006 signed the agreement for member states to switch over from analogue to digital broadcasting.

    NAN

  • Celebrating World Telecommunication Day

    Celebrating World Telecommunication Day

    Gone are the days when various telecommunication gizmos where the exclusive preserve of the rich. It is funny now, but just a few years ago, (more specifically, between the year 2000 and 2003), the cost of a mobile phone was on the high end; talkless of the price of a Sim Card.

    Today, the old woman down the street who sells herbs (alaagbo) has at least one mobile phone, the fashion designer has literally taken his business to the cloud (internet), and in a more jocular manner, we hear that Babalawos (traditional herbalists) now contact the deity using Google.

    All these are pointers to the plethora benefits of the telecommunication revolution in our dear nation – Nigeria.

    Going back to the annals of history, we understand that early means of communicating over a distance included visual signals such as beacons, smoke signals, telegraphs, signal flags, optical heliographs etc.

    Other examples of pre-modern long-distance communication included audio messages such as coded drumbeats, lung-blown horns, and loud whistles.

    The wake of the 20th century witnessed some kind of renaissance and innovations, especially when it pertains to long distance communication. Electrical and electromagnetic technologies, such as telegraph, telephone, teleprinter, networks, radio, microwave transmission, fiber optics, and communications satellites were prominent.

    The theme for this year World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is “Big Data For Big Impact”. It focuses on the power of Big Data for development and aims to explore how to turn imperfect, complex, often unstructured data into actionable information in a development context.

    The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

    Information gathering is a major boon for any nation, therefore, the fierce urgency to garner the demographic statistics of the denizens of a country. This way the policy and administrative wonks can forge a template for macro manpower planning and make informed economic decisions.

    Analysed data generated from telecommunication companies can strongly complement the evidence-based nature of decision-making that can be leveraged at national, regional and international levels to drive success towards attaining all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

    In more practical terms, Telecommunication is the transmission of signs, signals, messages, words, writings, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems. It occurs when the exchange of information between communication participants includes the use of technology.

    The impact of telecommunication on education has become so enormous that it cannot be expressed on a sheet of paper. Of course, the functionality of the various distant learning programmes situated all over, which is on the increase on a daily basis, wouldn’t have been possible without the telecommunication system such as the internet.

    More so, the series of educative programmes, soap operas, and what have you, being televised by the various television stations across the country can also be included as one of the avenues that have encouraged distant learning.

    As regards politics, telecommunication has recently proven to the citizenry that they can as well observe any electoral activity such as voting and counting of election results from their respective homes without stepping out of their premises.

    The recent Presidential primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was observed by every Nigerian both home abroad, is a good example of the said practice. Such has helped to improve transparency during elections, thereby avoiding occurrence of various possible electoral malpractices and crises.

    It is no longer news that millions of Nigerians are currently employed by several telecommunication companies operating in the country. Statistics show that over fifteen percent (15%) of Nigerian citizens are engaged with various telecom firms. Suffice it to say that the telecommunication industry is one of the major employers of labour in Nigeria, likewise other countries across the globe.

    Though telecommunication technologies play a very vital role in the social, economic, and even political development of any nation, it’s noteworthy that several anomalies need to be addressed in the sector in question.

    A situation whereby uncensored films, pictures or music are disseminated either via the television or the social media is totally unwholesome to the state of any nation, thus ought to be looked into by the relevant authorities such as the Nigerian Communications Communication (NCC) and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Finally, the incessant and opportunistic billing of customers by these telecommunication companies needs to be put on the leash and curtailed. Customers should be able to get real value for their monies – whether it be for data or calls.

  • Mba to be arraigned on Jan. 24

    Mba to be arraigned on Jan. 24

    The trial of former Director General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC),Emeka Mba, could not hold due to the absence of  counsel to the EFCC at Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    EFCC’s counsel, Malam Salisu Majidadi, was not in court and was not represented when the case was called.

    Mba is facing trial on an amended 15-count charge bordering on N2.9billion fraud. He is facing trial alongside the Director of Finance and Accounts,Patrick Areh, Basil Udotai and Babatunji Amure.

    Counsel to Mba, Mr Sunday Ameh, said he was not informed on why the EFCC was not represented in court. He would have asked the court to strike out the case if the defendant was already arraigned.

    “We are surprised they are not in court. We are also not aware of the reason for their absence”, Ameh said.

    Counsel to the other defendants aligned themselves with Ameh’s submission.

    The judge, Mr Gabriel Kolawole, adjourned the matter to Jan. 24, 2017 for arraignment.

  • FG names Chief Executives for NAN, NTA, FRCN, others

    FG names Chief Executives for NAN, NTA, FRCN, others

    The Federal Government has appointed the Chief Executives of six information-related parastatals under the Ministry of Information and Culture.

    The appointments were announced in Abuja on Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The new Chief Executives are:

    1. Mr. Ishaq Modibo Kawu – Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
    2. Mr. Mansur Liman – Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)
    3. Mr. Yakubu Mohammed – Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
    4. Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA)
    5. Mr. Bayo Onanuga – Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
    6. Mr. Osita Okechukwu – Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON)

    The new appointees are to replace the Chief Executives of the parastatals, who were disengaged on February 15th, 2016

    The appointments take immediate effect.