NBC imposes N5m fine each on DSTV, TSTV, NTA, Trust TV over documentary on banditry
By Paul Michael
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million each on Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV, TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV), and NTA-Startimes Limited for broadcasting a documentary by the BBC Africa Eye titled, “Bandits Warlords of Zamfara”.
Similarly, Trust Television Network (Trust TV) was also fined N5 million for the broadcast of another documentary titled, “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story”, which was aired by the station on March 5, 2022.
This was disclosed by NBC’s Director General, Balarabe Shehu Illela, in a statement issued on Wednesday. August 3, 2022, with the title, ‘NBC Sanction PayTV Platforms’.
Last week Thursday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that the Federal Government would sanction Trust TV and BBC for “terrorism glorification” in their documentaries.
Mohammed said the FG was aware of the “unprofessional” documentary by the BBC Africa Eye, where interviews were granted to bandit warlords and terror gangs, thereby promoting “terror” in the country.
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NBC, while appreciating the need of educating, informing, and enlightening the public on issues bordering on developments and happenings within and outside the country, advised broadcasters to be circumspect and deliberate in the choice and carriage of contents deleterious to Nigeria’s national security.
“The broadcaster shall not transmit a programme that incites or likely to incite to violence among the populace, causing mass panic, political and social upheaval, security breach and general social disorder; and
“The Broadcaster shall ensure that law enforcement is upheld at all times in a manner depicting that law and order are socially superior to, or more desirable than crime or anarchy.”
NBC said the imposed penalties on the broadcast media platforms and station was to be remitted not later than August 30, 2022.
It said failure to comply will lead to the imposition of a higher sanction as provided in the Code.
NBC enjoined broadcasters to be instruments of national unity and desist from falling into antics of using their platforms to promote and glamorise subversive elements and their activities.
“Please note that every broadcast station or platform is responsible for the content it transmits or transmitted on its platform, and shall be held liable for any content in violation of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,” the Commission added.
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