Connect with us

News

Broadcast Code: NBC Slams Arise TV, TVC N2m

Published

on

Arise Global Media Limited and Continental Broadcasting Services Limited will pay N2m fines each for breaching Nigeria’s broadcasting codes, the National Broadcasting Commission revealed on Friday.

In separate letters signed by its Director-General, Balarabe llelah, the media watchdog said the parent companies operating Arise News and Television Continental, respectively, have allowed politically-inciting language on their platforms.

The NBC also said TVC News does not offer equal coverage to other political parties asides from the All Progressives Congress.

The sanctions come barely 21 days to the presidential and governorship elections which will hold on February 25, 2023.

READ ALSO: Fayemi Sues Arise TV, Former Ekiti Commissioner For Defamation, Demands N500m

Advertisement

In a letter to Continental Broadcasting Services Limited, Ilelah said the NBC monitored the consistent breach of the Nigeria broadcasting code over a period, adding that “the worrisome trend has become a house style on your channel that enjoys national coverage.”

It read, “On January 6, 2023 at 12:29pm, the Joint Media Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, made the following comments while briefing the media.

“Obasanjo and Atiku run a criminal enterprise, an empire of fraud in Abuja. At the same time that Ahmed Bola Asiwaju was toiling hard, beautifully and meticulously to rebuild Lagos, 2 criminals were stealing money in Abuja at the time…they both stole from the SPV account at that time.

“On January 24 2023, at 03:39pm, during the APC Presidential Rally in Abia State, the APC Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu after telling the public to vote APC under the symbol of broom, he went on to make the following comment ‘…You know what you do with the rest of them? They are like lizards, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Just take the broom, wipe them off.”

It also accused the station of unequal coverage of the activities of the main opposition.

Illelah wrote, “On October 10, 2022, your station started its news with 17 minutes of APC news and one minute of PDP story with a video clip that did not play.

Advertisement

“Consequently, pursuant to the aforementioned Sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, TVC News is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira Only).

“Note that the penalty shall be paid within two weeks of the receipt of this Letter or sanction shall be graduated,” the NBC said.

In a letter to Arise Global Media Limited, the Commission said, “For avoidance of doubt, some of such unprofessional broadcasts are listed below for your perusal.

READ ALSO: NBC Fines Arise TV Over Report On Tinubu

“On January 24, 2023, between 1.00pm – 2.27pm, Arise TV aired the Presidential campaign rally of PDP which held in Delta State, replete with unfair remarks and mockery of the APC presidential candidate by Dino Melaye.

“Mr. Melaye sang a song ‘…hand dey shake, leg dey shake, baba wey no well, e dey shout emilokan’ he further went on to fall down demonstrating the frailty of the APC presidential candidate.”

Advertisement

It argued that Arise TV did not only air the programme but repeated the clip of Dino Melaye in a mockery of the APC Presidential candidate in another programme anchored by Ojy Okpe What’s Trending.

“On January 26 2023, at 9.40am, during the programme Morning Show, a guest, Na’jaatu Muhammed described the Presidential Candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu as mentally deranged without caution from the anchor. The guest had a field day with vituperations against the presidential candidate of the APC.

“On January 31 2023, at 3:30pm, during the broadcast of the PDP presidential rally in Sokoto State, Dino Melaye referred to the Vice-Presidential candidate of APC, Kashim Shettima as GCOB, meaning Grand Commander of Bandits.

READ ALSO: Why I’ll Not Attend Arise TV Town Hall Meeting – Tinubu

“Consequently, pursuant to the aforementioned Sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, Arise TV is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira Only),” the letter read.

The penalty shall be paid within two weeks of the receipt of the letter or sanction shall be graduated, the NBC warned.

Advertisement

News

Soludo Admits Refusing To Construct Road Due To Political Affiliation

Published

on

By

The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said he initially declined to construct a road in Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state because the House of Representatives member representing the area, Noble Igwe, was in the opposition party.

Soludo said that when the house member complained about the poor state of the road, known as Nwokedi Street, to him, he dismissed his complaints because he was in opposition.

The governor stated this while inaugurating 12 km of roads in the Okpoko area on Monday.

READ ALSO: DHQ Vows Decisive Response To Killers Of Soldiers In Delta

He said, “I rejected the advice to develop Nwokedi Street because the House member representing the area was formerly in the opposition. As of the time he brought the poor state of the road to my attention and advised it should be repaired, he was in the opposition then, and I did not listen to him.

Advertisement

“But one day, I was taking a walk, one guy showed me a road which the honourable member representing Ogbaru constituency 1, Noble Chukwunoso Igwe, had spoken to me about and because he was an opposition, I could not do any thing on the road then.

“Today, Noble Igwe is in our party, and he is a mainstream member, so we have listened to him. When he was in the opposition, he was in the parlour talking but his voice could not be heard, but today, he is not only a mainstream member of our party, but he is right in the bedroom talking with us. You cannot be outside and be talking, you have to come inside the bedroom so that we can listen to you.”

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

Soludo urged the people to support his government.

He said he is in governance because of places like Okpoko, noting that he will rebuild Okpoko and give the people a sense of belonging.

“Even if there is no money in Anambra, we wouldn’t mind using all the money in Anambra to develop Okpoko. Okpoko must be rebuilt. One of the reasons I became a governor was to give Okpoko identity,” he added.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

DHQ Vows Decisive Response To Killers Of Soldiers In Delta

Published

on

By

The Defence Headquarters on Monday vowed that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for killers of its personnel in Delta State.

No fewer than 15 military personnel were killed during a communal clash over a land dispute in Bomadi and Okuoma communities in Delta State.

The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.

The DHQ, in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, stated that its rule of engagement and human rights laws would be respected while dealing with the culprits.

READ ALSO: Pastor Preaching With AK-47 Seeks Judicial Review Of Trial

Advertisement

The statement partly read, “The senseless and barbaric killings of these men is a tragedy. They were killed in a dehumanised and unspeakable manner. Accordingly, on behalf of the CDS, Gen CG Musa, the armed forces mourn the loss of these gallant troops who paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation. We console their families, colleagues, and loved ones over the tragic incident. They have died trying to restore peace in the nation.

“It is necessary to reiterate that both the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act saddled the military with the responsibility of the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation. Accordingly, the armed forces consist of citizens from every nook and cranny of the nation that have taken an oath of allegiance to put themselves in harm’s way to defend our great country.

“The military assures all that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly acts. Nevertheless, the armed forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict, and respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions. We would not be led by emotions but by the rule of law.”

Buba also denied reports of reprisal attacks by troops in the community after the incident.

READ ALSO: How Tinubu, Akande, Osoba Missed Opportunity To Rewrite 1999 Constitution – Adebanjo

According to him, the community had been deserted before the arrival of the troops on the scene.

Advertisement

Buba urged those dishing out false information on the incident to stop disrespecting the dead.

He called on the community to assist the military in arresting the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Buba said, “It is against this background that the military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama Community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene.

“Importantly, those involved in peddling this misinformation, disinformation, and fake news that the military had embarked on reprisal attacks on the community following the incident should desist from further dishonouring our fallen heroes.

READ ALSO: Only Seven Banks Can Meet CBN Recapitalisation Requirements – Report

“Rather, it behooves the community leaders, elders, and even the people of Delta State to assist in the investigation to identify the perpetrators of the dastardly act so that they can be held accountable for their actions.

Advertisement

“Furthermore, it must be noted that the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remains unresolved. It, therefore, implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military.”

Buba, however, urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of sharing the gory videos of how the soldiers were killed.

“We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral. Their loved ones are still alive, even though they have died protecting our country and its citizens.

“It would be dishonoured to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise go viral. Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure the safety and security of citizens across the country,” he said.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Chairman, Executive Secretary For Almajiri Commission

Published

on

By

President Bola Tinubu has made adjustments to earlier appointments he approved at the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.

Brigadier-General Lawal Isa (retd.), whom he appointed Executive Secretary on March 15, will now serve as chairman of the commission.

Dr. Idris Sani will now serve as its executive secretary/CEO.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Monday evening titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Almajiri Education Commission leadership team.’

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

Advertisement

“Brigadier-General Lawal Ja’afar Isa (Rtd) is now to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Commission, while Dr. Idris Sani is to serve as the Executive Secretary/CEO,” the statement read.

Sani replaces Sha’aban Sharada, who served as the commission’s pioneer leader since its creation in May 2023.

On May 28, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill 2023 and appointed Sharada, the outgoing Member of the House of Representatives for Kano Municipal, as Executive Secretary.

A former military administrator of Kaduna State from 1993 to 1996, Ngelale described Isa as a respected leader.

READ ALSO: Army Recovers Mutilated Corpses Of Officers In Delta

Meanwhile, Sani holds master’s and doctorate degrees in Islamic Studies.

Advertisement

He was the Director-General, Al-Iman School Lafia; Commissioner, Basic/Secondary Education, Yobe State; Chairman, Nigerian Arabic Language Village, Borno State; Member, Nasarawa State Government Committee on Enlightenment Campaign, and Secretary-General, Association of Private Schools in Nasarawa State.

The President expects that the new appointees will “bring their vast experience into the management of this critical Commission, which impacts the very core of society, by ensuring that his administration’s drive to guarantee Nigeria’s out-of-school children the most comprehensive education is realized in the superseding interest of the nation’s future,” said Ngelale.

Continue Reading

Trending