The Federal
Government on Thursday directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to
sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech.
The
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, issued the directive
in Abuja at the Annual Lecture Series of the NBC and the 25th Anniversary of
the Commission.
The minister
said that the directive was part of efforts to stem the growing tide of hate
speech in the country. “As a matter of fact, the challenges facing the NBC have
never become more daunting, considering the increasing propensity of some radio
and television stations across the country to turn over their platforms to the
purveyors of hate speech.
“It is the responsibility of the NBC to put these
broadcast stations in check before they set the country on fire. “As the NBC
celebrates what is a milestone – a quarter of a century – in its existence, I
urge the Commission to redouble its efforts in discharging its mandate.
“The
NBC must ensure a strict adherence to the Broadcasting Code, and errant
stations must be sanctioned accordingly to serve as a deterrent. “The nation
looks up to the NBC to restore sanity to the broadcast industry. The Commission
cannot afford to do any less at this critical time.
It cannot afford to fail
the nation,” he said. The minister cited the ignominious role played by a radio
station in fuelling the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 which led to the loss of
over 800,000 lives in 100 days. He, therefore, charged the NBC not to allow the
purveyors of hate speech to lead Nigeria to the path of destruction.
“If you
tune into many radio stations, for example, you will be shocked by the things
being said, the careless incitement to violence and the level of insensitivity
to the multi-religious, multi-ethnic nature of our country. “Unfortunately, even
some of the hosts of such radio programmes do little or nothing to stop such
incitements.
“Oftentimes, they are willing collaborators of hate speech
campaigners.
This must not be allowed to continue because it is detrimental to
the unity and well-being of our country,” he said. Speaking earlier, the
Director-General, NBC, Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu said that the commission was
committed to carrying out its statutory mandate of regulating the broadcast
industry.
He said that the Commission would also ensure that the Digital Switch
Over in TV broadcasting was achieved to create national digital economy. The
pioneer director-general of the commission, Chief Tom Adaba expressed
satisfaction that the commission, which started 25 years back with no guiding
template, had become a reference point in broadcasting regulation in
Africa.
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