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Buhari Government Revokes Licences Of 52 Broadcast Stations

Agency Report August 19, 2022

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President Muhammadu Buhari administration has revoked licences of the African Independent Television (AIT), Silverbird Television (STV), and 50 other broadcast stations.

This was made known by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Addressing the press in Abuja on Friday, Director General of the Commission, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, said the 52 affected stations had been owing since 2015.

He said the stations were owing about N2.6 billion debt.

According to him, in May, the commission published the names of stations who were yet to renew their licences and granted them two weeks to do so or get their licences revoked.

He said three months after the publication, some stations were yet to pay their outstanding debt in contravention of Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, particularly Section 10(a) of the third schedule of the Act.

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Announcing the revocation of the licences, Ilelah instructed that the affected stations should shut down their operations within 24 hours.

He called on all stations who have not renewed their licences for the current duration to do so within 30 days to avoid sanctions.

He also called on all Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and other broadcast stations that were streaming online to register with the commission to avoid disconnection.

He said even if they pay their outstanding fees, they would have to pay another amount for recommencement of operations.

Below is the list of the affected stations:

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Silverbird TV (Silverbird Communications Co. Ltd)

Network

Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd)

AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication Itd)

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)