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Nigerian govt seeks to control online media broadcasting

The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has asked the House of Representatives to include all online and internet broadcasting entities under the control of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Mohammed’s request was disclosed at the public hearing into a bill to amend the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Act, organized by the House Committees on Information, Ethics and Values.

The proposal seeks to give NBC the powers to “receive, process and consider applications for the establishment and ownership of radio and television stations.”

Mohammed said; “I want to add that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in the bill.”

If the bill is passed with Lai Mohammed’s recommendation, all online media entities will have to get approval from the NBC before operating.

However, the Executive Director of the Institute of Media and Societies, Akin Akingbulu, opposed the inclusion of online digital platforms, saying it would further stifle the civic space.

He said; “The inclusion of the following among categories of broadcasting services licences will be injurious to the civics space, freedom of expression and media freedom in Nigeria.

“The power to give directives to the commission, vested in the minister of information in section six should be removed and replaced with powers which include policy formulation for the broadcasting sector, the negotiation of international agreements, notification of the policy direction of government and ensuring that the independence of the commission is protected at all times.”

 

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