reviewed Nigeria Broadcasting Code in Lagos on Tuesday
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has unveiled the reviewed Nigeria Broadcasting Code which contains the
Antitrust provision aimed at boosting local content and encouraging
the growth of the local industry, among other provisions.
In his remarks at the unveiling ceremony organized by the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister said
the Antitrust provision will boost local content and local industry
due to laws prohibiting exclusive use of rights by broadcasters who
intend to create monopolies and hold the entire market to themselves.
He said the Antitrust provision would also encourage open access to
premium content.
”I must explain that this provision is not new to Nigeria
Broadcasting. Exclusivity was disallowed at a certain time in the
history of our broadcasting. I recall Multichoice sub-licensing EPL
matches to other local operators in Nigeria. I recall HITV engaging
several local operators on sub-licensing the EPL when they got the
rights,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
He said the revised Code contains the law prohibiting backlog of
advertising debts in order to promote sustainability for the station
owners and producers of content, as well as the law on registration of
Web Broadcasting, which will grant the country the opportunity to
regulate negative foreign broadcasts that can harm the nation.
“The provisions on responsibility of broadcast stations to devote
airtime to national emergencies…obviously mandates terrestrial and
Pay TV channels to make their services available to Nigerians at time
of national emergencies – like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – for
their education and enlightenment,” the Minister said.
He said the amended Code also includes the provision raising the fine
for hate speech from 500,000 Naira to 5 million Naira.
Alhaji Mohammed clarified that the amendments were necessitated by a
Presidential directive, in the wake of the 2019 general elections, for
an inquiry into the regulatory role of the NBC with a view to
repositioning the regulator for optimum performance.
He said despite the attacks by some vested interests, who believe that
their singular business interest is superior to national interest,
over the provisions of the amended Code, the Federal Government
remains unperturbed,
“But, as it currently stands, the 6th edition and the amendments,
which we are unveiling today, remain the regulations for broadcasting
in Nigeria. Our intention remains the good of the country. We need to
catalyze the growth of the local industry. We need to create jobs for
our teeming creative youths. The opportunities must be created and we
believe that effective regulatory interventions are a sure way of
attaining this. That’s why we will not waver,” the Minister said.
For his part, the Acting Director General of the NBC, Prof.
Armstrong Idachaba, commended the present administration for showing
keen interest in the development of the Broadcasting Industry through
the implementation of reforms and several other interventions.
The event was attended by officials of NBC and other stakeholders in
the Broadcasting Industry.
—Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of The Minister of Information and Culture
