Channels Television still on air despite NBC suspension, Nigerians react

 

Nigeria’s leading television news station, Channels, remains on air despite reported suspension by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), on Monday.

Channels was suspended and fined N5 million by the regulator for allegedly breaching the broadcast code.

In a letter to the Managing Director of Channels Television signed by the Acting Director-General of NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, the Commission referred to Channels 7 pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV station of allowing a leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without caution or reprimand, contrary to the broadcast code.

It also accused the station of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false and misleading statements about the Nigerian army, despite being proscribed by a court of law.

The NBC’s decision has stirred up anger among Nigerians who have taken to the social media platforms to vent their displeasure.

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Civil society organisations and opposition political parties have also expressed their disagreement with the regulator’s sanction.

“The suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine.

“Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. The ability to practice journalism freely and to cover diverse views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.

“The government of President Buhari has a responsibility to protect Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information,” the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), declared in a statement seen on Twitter.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the NBC action as draconian.

Said the party: “Without prejudice to the issues raised against @ChannelsTv, the reported hasty clamp down, without the benefit of caution, is suggestive of intolerance and high-handedness by the regulatory body.

“Our party is worried that such disposition could be counter-productive and heighten the already tensed situation in our nation at this critical time.

“The @OfficialPDPNig therefore urges the NBC to review the punitive measure on the media house as well as scale up system-friendly measure that will ensure best practices in information dissemination in our country.”