Nigeria's broadcasting regulator orders foreign broadcasters and internet protocol television providers to regularise their operations or face prosecution.
This statement was originally published on mediarightsagenda.org on 23 February 2023.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has given foreign broadcasters with offices in Nigeria that beam their signals into the country 30 days within which to register with the Commission or face sanctions. It also called on all Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and all other broadcast stations streaming online to register with the Commission to avoid disconnection and prosecution.
The NBC Director General, Mallam Balarabe Ilelah, gave the order in Abuja on February 17, 2023, while presenting provisional licenses to 67 newly approved stations.
He said: “Some of them are even producing content in Nigeria. They don’t have a license from the NBC and that is considered to be illegal transmission. Once you are an illegal broadcaster that means you are undermining the security of the country and we are going to hand you over to the relevant security agencies for prosecution,”
Mallam Ilelah told broadcasters to note that having a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) or FM license does not authorise a broadcaster to stream online, saying they are two different licenses.
The NBC DG said the Commission was determined to collaborate with security agencies to clamp down on illegal broadcasters in the country. He reminded licensees that are yet to pay their outstanding debts to hurriedly pay or have their licences revoked for illegal broadcasting.
He said refusal to pay license fees is economic sabotage, warning that the Commission will have no option but to collaborate with security and anti-corruption agencies to redeem the debts.
