NBC fines station over politician claims

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has fined radio broadcast station Nigeria Info 99.3FM N5m for using its platform to promote unverifiable views that could incite crime and public disorder.

The move follows the recent increase by the NBC of the hate speech fine from N500,000 to N5m.

According to the NBC, the station broadcast a claim made by a former presidential aspirant, Obadiah Mailafia, that a northern state governor is a commander of terror group Boko Haram.

The NBC said in a statement: “The National Broadcasting Commission has noted with grave concern the unprofessional conduct of Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, in the handling of the programme Morning Cross Fire, aired on August 10, 2020 between 8.30am and 9.00am. The station provided its platform for the guest, Dr Mailafia Obadiah, to promote unverifiable and inciting views that could encourage or incite crime and lead to public disorder.

“The Commission, again, wishes to reiterate that broadcasters hold licences in trust for the people. Therefore, no broadcast station should be used to promote personal or sectional interests at the expense of the people. Dr Mailafia 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 some sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”

It added that it hoped the fine will “serve as a deterrent to all other broadcast stations in Nigeria who are quick to provide platform for subversive rhetorics and the expositions of spurious and unverifiable claims.”

The NBC also said it would not hesitate to suspend the broadcast licences of broadcasters that continue to breach the code.

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