Crackdown on media?: NBC shuts AIT, Raypower FM, Silverbird TV, Rhythm FM (See names of other closed stations)

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of Nigeria has revoked the broadcast licences of 52 broadcast stations across the country, including   Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raypower FM, Silverbird TV and Rhythm FM, over alleged failure to renew their broadcast licences.

Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, Director General of the NBC, who said at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday that the stations were owing the Commission N2.6 billion since 2015, also ordered the Commission’s state offices to work in collaboration with security agencies in order to ensure total shut down of the operations of these stations within the next 24 hours.

The NBC chief said that the continued operation of the stations is illegal and constitutes a threat to national security, and there is already palpable fear that apart from being shut down and their licenses revoked, the frequencies of the shut stations may be withdrawn and reassigned to others who may be more pliable.

Though the DG stressed that there was no political undertone in the revocation of the licenses of the broadcast stations, fears are being expressed that the move may be part of widely alleged plans by the Federal Government to crackdown on the media using different strategies.

There have, indeed, been attempts by the Federal Government to muzzle or “regulate” the media using different guises, and tongues are wagging that the latest action of the NBC, which is controlled by the Alhaji Lai Mohammed-led Ministry of Information and Culture is one of such strategies.

Of the shut broadcast stations, AIT/Raypower, for instance was founded by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a chieftain of the main opposition party in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the Silverbird Group is owned by Ben Murray-Bruce, a former Senator elected on the platform of the PDP, who is also a caustic critic of government. The two media groups are the most formidable in the country and stand out among those declared shut by the NBC.

Other nationally less known stations among the shut broadcasters include Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd), Greetings FM (Greetings Media Ltd), Tao FM (Ovidi Communications Ltd), Zuma FM (Zuma FM Ltd), Crowther FM (Crowther Communications Ltd), WE FM (Kings Broadcasting Ltd), Linksman International ltd, Bomay Broadcasting Services Ltd, MITV (Murhi International Group Ltd), Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd), Beat FM (Megalectrics LTD), Cooper Communications Ltd, Splash FM (West Midlands Ltd), Rock City FM (Boot Communications Ltd), Family FM (Kalaks Investments Nig. Ltd), Space FM (Creazioni Nig. Ltd), Radio Jeremi (Radio Jeremi Ltd), Wave FM (South Atlantic Media Ltd), Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Niger State Broadcasting Corporation, Breeze FM (Bays Water Ltd),Vibes FM (Vibes Communication Ltd) and Family Love FM (Multimesh Broadcasting Co. Ltd).

Others are Gombe State Broadcasting Corporation, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation, Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, Borno State Broadcasting Corporation, Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation, Sokoto State Broadcasting Corporation, Zamfara State Broadcasting Corporation, Kebbi State Broadcasting Corporation, Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation, Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation, and Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation.

The NBC DG also warned all broadcast stations that have not renewed their licenses for the current duration to do so within the next 30 days to avoid sanctions.

According to him, the “Commission also calls on all IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and all other broadcast stations that are streaming online to register with the Commission to avoid disconnection.

“Broadcasters should note that having a DTT or FM license does not warrant a broadcaster to stream online; they are two different licenses,” he stressed.