NBC fines Nigeria Info 99.3FM N5m for unprofessional broadcast

National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has fined broadcasters of Nigerian Info 99.3FM Lagos the sum of N5m, over unprofessional broadcasting.

In a statement signed by the management of the commission, NBC said it has noted with grave concern, the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, in the handling of the programme, “Morning Cross Fire”, aired by the station on August 10, 2020, between 8.30am and 9.00am. 

“Consequent on these provisions and in line with the amendment of the 6th edition of Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Nigeria Info 99.3FM Lagos, has been fined the sum of N5,000,000.00,” it stated.

The commission said the station provided its platform for the guest, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite to crime and lead to public disorder.

The NBC reiterated that broadcasters hold Licenses in trust for the people and warned that no broadcast station should be used to promote personal or sectional interests at the expense of the general public.

According to the commission, “Dr. Obadia’s comments on the “Southern Kaduna Crisis”, were devoid of facts and by broadcasting same to the public, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, is in violation of the following sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

The sections of the code include ; 3.1.1, which states that, “No broadcast shall encourage or incite to crime, lead to public disorder or hate, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference to any person or organisation, alive or dead or generally be disrespectful to human dignity; 3.1.2, that states,” Broadcasting shall promote human dignity, therefore, hate speech is prohibited; 3.3.1 (a) which stipulates that, “The broadcaster shall ensure that any information given in a programme, in whatever form, is accurate.

Other sections quoted by the commission were; 3.3.3.1(b) that states, “The broadcaster shall ensure that all sides to any issue of public interest are equitably presented for fairness and balance; 3.11.1(a) which states that, “Broadcasters shall ensure that language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime, or lead to disorder, is not broadcast; 3.11.1(b) which orders stations to ensure that, “No programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state and section 5.4.1(f) that stipulates, “The Broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.

NBC further noted that the development will serve as a deterrent to all other broadcast stations in Nigeria, who are quick to provide platform for subversive rhetoric and the expositions of spurious and unverifiable claims, as it warned that it will not hesitate to suspend the broadcast licence of any station that continues to breach the code.

“Stations are, by this statement, admonished to desist forthwith, from airing unwholesome content or be ready to face appropriate sanctions,” it added.