The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Friday revoked the operating licenses of 52 broadcast stations across the country, including AIT, Silverbird, Raypower, Rhythm FM and the Lagos Broadcasting Corporation.
NBC’s Director-General, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, said the stations whose licenses were revoked had been owing the commission the total sum of N2.6 billion since 2015.
Affected stations are: Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd), Greetings FM (Greetings Media Ltd), Tao FM (Ovidi Communications Ltd), Zuma FM (Zuma FM Ltd), Crowther FM (Crowther Communications Ltd), WE FM (Kings Broadcasting Ltd), Linksman International ltd, Bomay Broadcasting Services Itd, MITV (Murhi International Group Ltd), Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd), Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd), Classic TV (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd), Beat FM (Megalectrics LTD), Cooper Communications Itd, Splash FM (West Midlands Ltd) and Rock City FM (Boot Communications Itd).
There are also Family FM (Kalaks Investments Nig. Ltd), Space FM (Creazioni Nig. Ltd), Radio Jeremi (Radio Jeremi ltd), Wave FM (South Atlantic Media Itd), Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Niger State Broadcasting Corporation, Breeze FM (Bays Water ltd),Vibes FM (Vibes Communication ltd) and Family Love FM (Multimesh Broadcasting Co. ltd).
Others are: Gombe State Broadcasting Corporation, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation, Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, Borno State Broadcasting Corporation, Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation, Sokoto State Broadcasting Corporation, Zamfara State Broadcasting Corporation, Kebbi State Broadcasting Corporation, Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation, Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation, and Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation.
According to Ilelah, the affected stations were to pay their fees within 24 hours or they would have their stations disconnected.
He also said there was no political motive behind the revocation of the licenses of the various stations, but purely on debt basis.
Ilelah explained that the commission had in May published the defaulting stations in newspapers and ordered them to pay up their debt within two weeks or had their licenses revoked.
The NBC DG added that despite the publication, the affected stations refused to pay up their debts till this moment which left the commission with no choice than to revoke their licenses.
He said their acts violated the NBC Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, particularly Section 10(a) of the third schedule of the Act
According to him, there was no way the affected stations would be allowed to continue to operate illegally
He added: “Therefore, after due consideration, the NBC hereby announces the revocation of the licenses of the under-listed stations and gives them 24 hours to shut down their operations. Our offices nationwide are hereby directed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.”
Source: PM News