The Nigerian broadcast regulatory agency, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Friday announced the withdrawal of the suspension of operating licence of Daar Communications Plc, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower 100.5FM.
This was the outcome of consultative meetings and strategic arbitration powered by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) under the leadership of its National Chairman, Nduka Obaigbena and other pioneer media moguls who came to rescue the situation to avoid chances of escalation.
Their coming in further created a soft-landing that led to a consent judgment of the court in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C5/595/2019 that opened the window of further settlement of the crisis.
Recall that on June 6, 2019, the NBC suspended the operating license of Daar Communications Plc over incessant abuse of broadcast codes after several warnings by the agency.
Though Daar Group hurriedly secured a Federal High Court order that ruled for maintenance of statuesque, NBC in a terse statement after observing the abuse of the suspension order and court ruling maintained its stand on suspending Daar’s licence.
This attracted media moguls under the aegis of NPO who intervened to broker the unfolding peaceful resolution of the matter.
Addressing the media Friday in his Office, the Director General of NBC, Mr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, saluted the matured intervention of media moguls, saying “After several meetings, we reached an agreement, which also became the basis of the court judgement that was delivered two days ago”.
“We want to especially thank Uncle Sam Amuka, and Alhaji Samaila Isa Funtua, who hosted the conciliatory meetings, and especially Nduka Obaigbena, the Chairman of the NPO, for his remarkable effort at brokering the settlement. He ensured that NPAN did not join the bandwagon of an almost pavlovian reflexive condemnation of the NBC, but chose instead, to find a way for the contending issues between regulator and licensee, to be amicably resolved in the overall interest of the country,” Kawu said.
Continuing, NBC boss averred that that key in the deals reached between the NBC and Daar Communications Plc, include: “That DAAR Communications Plc shall furnish the National Broadcasting Commission with a concrete and realistic proposal for the payment of its outstanding license renewal fee for the National Network Broadcast License ( Radio/TV).
“That DAAR Communications Plc shall take the necessary internal steps to ensure balance in its news coverage, especially political commentary on the DAAR Communications Plc stations across the country.
“That DAAR Communications Plc shall take full editorial responsibility for the use of content sourced from social media and all/any other outlets.
“That DAAR Communications Plc shall ensure that all programmes transmitted on its TV/Radio stations across the country comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. NII, laws of the Federation, 2004 and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code as may be in force or/and as amended from time to time.
“That the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) shall withdraw forthwith, the suspension of the National Network Broadcast License (Radio/TV) of DAAR Communications Plc,” Kawu said.
According to him, on the basis of the judgment, the NBC had withdrawn the suspension notice issued to DAAR Communications Plc.
He however warned all broadcast houses to always be guided by the provisions of Nigerian Broadcasting Code to limit avoidable crisis in the industry and thanked the roles played by NPO and others in the amicable resolution of the differences.
Business Hilights recalls that Kawu, a veteran journalist had a very strong background in broadcast journalism and had served the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as a newscaster for years before retiring.
Industry experts see him as a reservoir of strategic broadcast management experience, knowledge and intelligence worthy of emulation by current practicing media executives.
It would be recalled that ever since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Dg of NBC, his leadership background had repositioned the agency as at the last count, there has been jumping liberalization of the broadcast space in Nigeria with more outfits coming on air including community and educational Radio stations nationwide.
