NBC vs DAAR Communications: Heavily armed police, SSS operatives
surround AIT premises – Akiotu
Heavily armed
security men of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service have
surrounded the premises of the African Independent Television, AIT.
This was after the
station came back on air late Friday.
This was disclosed
by the Group Managing Director of DAAR Communications, Tony Akiotu.
Akiolu addressed
newsmen shortly after AIT commenced operation, claiming that security forces
gathered around the station’s premises.
He decried the
development, adding that the action of the NPF and the SSS was an ‘unwarranted
threat’ on the broadcast station.
He said that “by
12.30 a.m. Saturday morning, the premises was surrounded, adding that the
“heavily fortified security operatives were carrying out surveillance on the
premises.”
He said this was
“unusual” and the motive “unclear” but the station will not be deterred as “the
station is still transmitting signals on its national and global beam.”
NBC must lift ban on AIT, RayPower immediately – SERAP threatens legal
action
The Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened legal action against
the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC over the suspension of the licence of
DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and RayPower Fm.
NBC had on Thursday
suspended the license of AIT and RayPower Fm until further notice for failure
to abide by the broadcasting code.
The
Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, announced
the development Thursday evening.
The development has
since sparked diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media.
Speaking on the
development, SERAP called on NBC to lift the ban on AIT , RayPower immediately
or face legal action.
The group in a post
on its official Twitter page described the indefinite suspension as illegal.
The post reads: “We
have carefully reviewed the ‘grounds’ for suspending AIT and Raypower. We
maintain that the indefinite suspension by NBC is arbitrary and blatantly illegal.
The ban must be lifted immediately.
“The NBC must
immediately reverse its arbitrary decision to suspend AIT, Raypower or face
legal action.
“This is
censorship. The move is a serious blow to freedom of expression and Nigerians’
right to information about critical developments in the country. “
AIT/RayPower shutdown: Ezekwesili gives own reason NBC shut down media
house
A former
presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Oby
Ezekwesili has reacted to the suspension of the licence of the African
Independent Television, AIT and RayPower Fm by the National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC.
NBC had on Thursday
suspended
the license of AIT and RayPower Fm until further notice.
The
Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, disclosed that the action was taken for
failure of the broadcasting stations to abide by the broadcasting code.
The offences listed
by the NBC included the airing of a presidential election documentary by the
AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal, the inability of the company to pay
its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the Social Media”
among others.
But, reacting to
the development, Ezekwesili said there was nothing in NBC letter that warranted
the withdrawal of AIT’s licence.
She added that AIT
was only shut down because it is perceived to be an “Opposition media.”
She tweeted, ”NBC
to AIT that reaches the threshold for withdrawal of license and shut down of a
Media house that we all know Government perceives as an “Opposition media.
” My Summary of
this lengthy Sanctions letter from NBC to AIT is simply this.
“We have warned you
several times in the past to stop broadcasting things that upset the Government
and NBC. You refused to listen. Now we shall shut you up and down until you are
ready to be like NTA”
”There is nothing
in that letter from NBC to AIT that reaches the threshold for withdrawal of
license and shut down of a Media house that we all know Government perceives as
an “Opposition media”.
”Wisdom should have
actually instructed the FG against striking out at them.”
AIT/RayPower: Your punishment too harsh – Lawyer, Ajulo to NBC
A Constitutional
lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo, has condemned the punishment meted to DAAR
Communications, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM
by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), saying it was too harsh.
Ajulo said on
Friday in Abuja that there were other punishments that could be employed by NBC
to ensure that any erring media outfit conforms with prescribed laws and
regulations, NAN reports.
He said that the
freedom of the press was guaranteed in developed nations and polities, adding
that the provisions of Section 23 of the constitution guaranteed press freedom.
According to him,
the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all
times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and uphold the
responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.
“I am of the view
that the punishment meted by the NBC was harsh, however, one of the remedies
that avails to AIT is to approach the court for reversal of any action taken by
NBC,” he said in a statement.
He said that AIT
was a product of June 12 struggle, noting that it would be a disservice to
democracy and nationalism as well as the image of Nigerian government to
withdraw the license of DAAR Communications.
Ajulo said that the
withdrawal coming on the eve of the grand celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s
Democracy Day, would not augur well for the country.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Director-General of NBC, Mr Kawu Modibo, said
the decision to suspend AIT was based on the violation of the broadcasting code
by the station.
Others include
failure of the broadcasting station to pay its licence fees as and when due
backed by the provisions of paragraph 10 of the third schedule of the NBC Act.
Peter Obi reacts to NBC’s suspension of AIT, RayPower FM, says Nigeria
back to military dictatorship
Peter Obi, the 2019
vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned
the suspension of DAAR Communication Plc, owner of AIT and RayPower FM by the
National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
NBC had on Thursday
suspended the license of AIT and RayPower FM until further notice.
The
Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, disclosed
that the action was taken for failure of the broadcasting stations to abide by
the broadcasting code.
The offences listed
by the NBC included the airing of a presidential election documentary by the
AIT, a matter pending before a tribunal, the inability of the company to pay
its fees, the use of “divisive and inciting contents from the Social Media”
among others.
Reacting to the
suspension, Obi described the decision of Daar Communication’s licence as an
affront on the freedom of the press and speech as enshrined by the
constitution.
In a tweet, the
former Anambra governor wrote: “The suspension of the licenses of AIT and Ray
Power stand condemned. It is an affront on the freedom of the press, and of
speech as enshrined in our constitution. It is a throwback to the years of
military dictatorship. – PO.”
The Nigeria Union
of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the closure of AIT and RayPower FM by the National
Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
NUJ, which urged
NBC to do the needful by reopening the stations within 24-hours, stated that
the “action portends grave danger for Free Press and Independent Media.”
Recall that on
Thursday, NBC suspended operations of Daar Communications, owners of AIT and
RayPower FM over allegations of breaching Broadcasting Code.
The statement
signed by the President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo and union’s National Secretary,
Shuaibu Usman Leman, described NBC actions as unacceptable.
The statement read,
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists is alarmed at the closure of AIT by the
National Broadcasting Commission and believes that the action portends grave
danger for Free Press and Independent Media.
“Independent and
Pluralistic Media in a democracy like Nigeria serve to promote democracy by
their dissemination of authentic information and ensuring transparency in
governance.
“We condemn this
closure over allegations of breach of 2004 Broadcasting Code and insist there
are better ways of sanctioning media organisations that are found to have
erred.
“It will be helpful
if the NBC will immediately reopens AIT to ensure that they continue to promote
debate and opinions on issues that are of societal, economic and political
importance to the nation.
“We expect them to
do the needful in 24-hours,” the statement read.
Why Buhari govt shut down AIT, RayPower FM – Ex-APC chieftain
Former Deputy
National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi
Frank, on Friday, claimed that the suspension of the broadcast licences of the
Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM by the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was an attempt by the Buhari government to muzzle
the media.
Frank, in a
statement in Abuja, said the use of armed soldiers to seal the offices of the
organisation located in Paduma Hills, Asokoro, was the height of impunity,
tyranny and molestation against the Nigerian media which was the pastime of
past military juntas in the country.
“This represents an
unfortunate and lamentable oppression of the media and direct suppression of Press
Freedom in the country by the General Muhammadu Buhari regime which must not be
allowed to stand,” he declared.
He stated that
having performed “woefully” in office in the last four years, the Buhari regime
has increasingly turned predatory, exploitative, vindictive and rapacious
against its citizens out of frustration.
“The ongoing
pacification, intimidation and emasculation of the Nigerian Media to confer
totalitarian powers on the General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and enable it to
ride roughshod over Nigerians without censure or criticism,” he lamented.
He wondered why a
government that has not been able to solve five per cent of the humongous
unemployed situation in the country would embark on acts that can directly kill
a business concern and render all its employees jobless.
“This unfortunate
action, I dare say, marks the beginning of the #NextLevel policy of
intimidation and persecution of the Nigerian media by the General Buhari’s
regime.
“Make no mistakes,
this closure is meant to serve as a lesson to other media houses and forcefully
stop them from exposing Buhari’s ineptness and cluelessness in governance to
members of the public,” he stated.
Frank warned the
media to brace up for more ferocious attacks by the present regime, saying that
any media organisation that considers the ongoing effort to kill AIT and
RayPower FM as an isolated incident should have a rethink.
“In January this
year, armed soldiers invaded and occupied the offices of Media Trust Limited –
Publishers of the Daily Trust Newspapers – in Maiduguri and Abuja, seized their
laptops, computers, arrested and detained its top reporters and editors.
“We must not also
forget the illegal detention of a Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe,
for three days for publishing a story from a report on the invasion of the
Senate authored by the immediate past IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to the President.”
He also recalled
how the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested and illegally detained
Jones Abiri – publisher of Weekly Source newspaper, based in Bayelsa state for
over two years without trial.
He urged Nigerians
to resist what he termed a “deliberate and systematic ploy to gag and tame the
Nigerian Press by Buhari.”
He said: “Freedom of
the press remains one of the indispensable indices of any genuine democratic
governance. Those who trample on press freedom have invariably trampled on
democracy and the inalienable rights and freedom of the people.”
“Where in the world
would can you ask private broadcast outfits – without public power supply – to
renew their licenses with N500million annually and yet expect them to meet
their running cost, pay salaries and keep afloat in an already comatose
economy?”
He stated that the
action of the NBC’s boss, Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, is not only targeted at
killing AIT and RayPower but to run the founder and Chairman Emeritus of DAAR
Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi – a chieftain of the opposition
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – aground economically.
He called on Kawu
to immediately reverse his directives and refrain from trading in the AIT and
Raypower to stop his trial over charges of alleged fraudulent diversion of a
N2.5 billion seed grant for television Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme of
the Federal Government, dropped.
He also called on
the military to remain professional by concentrating on their constitutional
mandate which is to defend the territorial integrity of the country.
AIT, RayPower shutdown: NGE blows hot, demands immediate revocation of
suspension order
The Nigerian Guild
of Editors (NGE) has demanded an immediate revocation of the suspension order
of the licenses of DAAR Communication Plc, owners of AIT, RayPower and Faaji
FM.
According to the
Guild, the suspension order runs contrary to the ideals of free speech and the
fine tenets of press freedom.
In a statement
signed by its President, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, and General Secretary, Mrs. Mary
Atolagbe, the Guild described the action of the National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC) as a case of executive highhandedness.
The guild added
that the suspension of the broadcast licenses of DAAR communication paints
Nigeria in the darkest tar of dictatorship.
The statement
reads: “The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) hereby condemns in very strong
terms the indefinite suspension of the licenses of the African Independent
Television, AIT, Ray Power by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“The Guild demands
in clear terms the revocation of the suspension order as it runs contrary to
the ideals of free speech and the fine tenets of press freedom. This is a case
of Executive highhandedness and it paints our dear country in the darkest tar
of dictatorship.
“The Fourth Estate
of the Realm remains the watchdog of society and any attempt to gag it in any
guise is an affront on democracy and the people. The NBC must and should
rescind this ignoble and despicable decision.
“The Guild strongly
believes the NBC action is a draconian form of regulation, being out of tune
with democratic principles. The Guild is concerned about the violation of the
constitutional rights of DAAR Communications and the absence of media freedom,
independence and the stifling of operations of media outfits which are
performing their roles as the watchdog of the Nigerian society.
“The NGE condemns
in strong terms the barbaric crackdown on the broadcast outfit and demands the
immediate cessation of this atrocious repression and excessive show of power by
the NBC, whose duty is to regulate and not kill the media.
“Muzzling the media
and throwing thousands of Nigerians into the already saturated labor market
should not be the trophy for good corporate governance of a regulator; it is
something to be ashamed of and NBC should be ashamed at its action in a
fledgling democracy in the 21st Century.
“The Guild is
strongly of the opinion that the NBC, in exercising its regulatory powers,
should concentrate on implementing policies that will position Nigeria’s
broadcasting to compete in the global spheres, rather than engage in
witch-hunting and unnecessary show of excessive force. The Guild hereby
expresses its solidarity with the AIT/Raypower family, urging the staff and
management to remain calm as the Guild liaises with and other media
professionals as well as well meaning Nigerians to get justice.
“The NGE appeals to
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to use his good offices to call NBC to order.
“It is to be
recalled that NBC had, before the 2019 general election, shut down Joy FM in
Jos for violations of the broadcasting code. Last year, the NBC shut down Ekiti
Radio/TV station. Shutting down stations and withdrawing licences are too
extreme in the circumstance. There must be humane and saner ways to resolve
disputes bordering on violation of the Broadcasting Code.”
Nigerians could literally watch Buhari sexually violate their
families, and enthusiastically defend him for doing so - David Hundeyin reacts
to AIT shutdown
Nigerian writer,
David Hundeyin has reacted to NBC's closure of AIT and Raypower.
In a series of
Tweets, the writer wrote; 'I want to say a lot about this AIT ban but
deep down I know that it's pointless. A large number of Nigerians could
literally watch Muhammadu Buhari sexually violate their families, and
enthusiastically defend him for doing so. You guys are abuse victims and it's
very sad'.
He went on to add
that, 'I don't feel sorry for Nigerians. I feel sorry for myself. Imagine
being born in a country where I must have a contingency plan for fleeing at a
moment's notice, simply because I know that my wannabe-totalitarian African
petro-state government will inevitably come after me'.
Tell Nigerians How Fanta, Sprite Could Harm Them - Reps Urges NBC
The House of Representatives has mandated the Nigerian
Bottling Company, NBC, producers of Coca Cola to tell Nigerians that two of
their products, Fanta and Sprite were dangerous to health when consumed with
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
The House said this must be done by printing warning
labels on the stipulated products.
The lawmakers of the Green Chamber also urged the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to compel
producers/manufacturers of all soft drinks in Nigeria to indicate all
chemicals, acids, colorants and preservatives contained in their products on
the packs or bottles “no matter how negligible they are.”
These were some of the recommendations of the Ad-hoc
Committee that investigated the production and distribution of drinks
manufactured by the Nigeria Bottling Company Limited and other drinks produced
or marketed in Nigeria which were considered and unanimously adopted by the
House on Wednesday.
The Committee headed by the House Leader, Hon. Femi
Gbajabiamila had between October 24 and 25, 2017 conducted extensive public
hearing on the matter.
Lawmakers had at the hearing interrogated the
relevance of sunset yellow, a colourant they said had been proven to cause
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and consequently
banned in some countries such as Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Australia.
The Committee also expressed worry that benzoic acid
content in Nigeria was much higher than what was obtained in other climes. For
instance, while it is 250milligram per kilogram in Nigeria, it is 150mg per kg
in the UK. Also at the hearing, the Consumer Protection Council, CPC stated
that sunset yellow can be done away with while benzioc acid level could be
reduced.
“Sunset yellow is not that relevant. Bezioc acid
should be reduced.
“Because, they are able to separate everything.
Hyperactivity in children is a problem. They have figured out the problem.
“We have not,” the CPC Director-General, Babatunde
Irukare said.
But in her presentation at the hearing, Simidele
Onabanjo, a Deputy-Director who represented the then Acting Director-General of
NAFDAC, Ademola Mogbojuri said that preservatives were healthy.
She said: “Any certificate of analysis as being
issued in the NADAC laboratory will address the physical parameter, the
appearance, the colour, the taste. It will address the chemical composition,
the microbial composition including the yeast, ecolag, the bacteria. It will
also address contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals.
“They are actually preservatives. Asorbebic acid is
a fortificant, it can an anti-oxidant and it can be preservative. Those things
are added like a stablizer so that the drinks will not break down in trade.
That’s the essence of their been there. The contention now is that in some
countries, the standards are lower while in Nigeria, ours is a bit higher.
While the disparity.
“It has do with whatever that’s is adopted in the
country. But because there still a bit of contention, they are reviewing it. We
cannot unilaterally as an agency take any other country if it has not been adopted
as a Nation. Standards are developed by the SON but there are other
organizations that participate in setting these standards”.
Laying the report on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, Hon.
Gbajabiamila said “That the House do consider the Report of the Ad-hoc
Committee to Investigate the Production and Distribution of Drinks Manufactured
by the Nigeria Bottling Company Limited and other Drinks Produced or Marketed
in Nigeria and approve the recommendations therein.”
Other recommendations also adopted included: “That
warning labels be printed on Fanta and Sprite that the products are harmful
when taken with Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C); that the Regulatory Agencies be
adequately funded by the Government to enable them effectively monitor and
ensure compliance; that expiration dates must be printed on all carbonated and
non-carbonated drinks produced and marketed in Nigeria; that standard review
should be carried out biannually by the Regulatory Agencies, particularly the
Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) partnering with NAFDAC and that the
Committee on Health Services should pay critical attention to the activities of
NAFDAC.”
The House of Representatives has mandated the Nigerian
Bottling Company, NBC, producers of Coca Cola to tell Nigerians that two of
their products, Fanta and Sprite were dangerous to health when consumed with
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).