DAILY COURIER
‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja – The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has temporarily suspended the shutdown of debtor broadcast stations.
DAILY COURIER reported that the NBC had earlier on Friday, August 19, 2022, issued a shutdown notice to licencees that were indebted to the Commission to the tune of N2.6 billion.
The commission ordered the affected stations, including AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication Ltd., Silverbird TV Network, and 50 others, to shut down in the next 24 hours and directed NBC offices nationwide to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.
Consequently, the commission, on Aug. 20, extended the period in which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday.
It explained that the extension of the enforcement date was due to an appeal by the affected broadcast stations, relevant stakeholders, public-spirited individuals, and organisations.
Following the ultimatum, the director general of NBC, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, Friday, in Abuja, said the Commission has received positive responses from the debtor Licencees, including big players in the broadcast industry.
“Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with Executives of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and other critical Stakeholders in the industry.
“The commission has decided to temporarily suspend the shutdown of the indebted broadcast stations all over the country.
“We express our profound appreciation to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the affected licencees, and broadcast Stakeholders for their responses and interventions.
“We specifically thank DAAR Communications Ltd., and Silverbird TV/Rhythm FM for their responses”, Ilelah said, adding that the commission was not unaware of the difficulties the shutdown would have caused the operators and other stakeholders.
The DG stated that the commission would always operate within the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
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