In Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has proved that it can both bark and bite. The NBC says it has sanctioned eighty-eight broadcasting stations for breeching various provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The regulating agency said it fined the erring stations, which included radio and television outfits, over N11 million. In a statement last Tuesday in Abuja, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Mrs. Maimuna Jimada, declared that the offences committed by the stations ranged from breeches of rules on vulgar lyrics, unverifiable claims to hate speeches, among others.
She pointed out that broadcasters have a duty to promote the socio-economic wellbeing of the country and abide strictly by the provisions of the Broadcasting Code.
Mrs. Jimada said the erring stations were sanctioned in various categories according to the provisions of the Broadcasting Code. A breakdown of the list showed that 19 stations were fined N2.1m in Abuja Zone, three stations were fined N400,000 in Benin Zone, while 20 stations were fined N2.2m in Enugu Zone.
The breakdown further showed that at the Kaduna Zone, about 12 stations were fined N1.35m, just as three stations got a fine of N1.05m in the Lagos Zone.
Also, 12 stations were fined N1.3m in Ibadan Zone, one station was fined N100,000 at the Jos Zone, while three stations were fined N300,000 at the Maiduguri Zone. At the Uyo zone, 12 stations were fined N1.6m while there were no breaches recorded in Sokoto Zone within the period under review.
