NBC sends final warning to Arise News
The National Broadcasting Commission has warned Arise Television to stop airing derogatory and inflammatory remarks on its programmes.
The Commission, in a letter dated October 6, 2023, and signed by its Director-General, Dr Balarabe Ilelah, said the TV station had breached Nigeria’s broadcasting codes several times.
The letter, titled “Preponderance of derogatory and incendiary remarks: final warning”, was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Arise Global Media Limited.
It stated that the NBC had noticed with concern the frequent use of provocative remarks by some guests on Arise news. It urged the broadcaster to exercise more control over the selection and management of its guests.
The Commission cited two examples of programmes that violated the broadcasting rules and codes. One was the morning show programme on October 5, hosted by Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Maio-Ese, which featured Oladokun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as guests.
“The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the Legislature and the Executive, the Judiciary and Mr. President.”
The other was the Newsday programme that featured the Spokesperson of the Labour Party, Kenneth Okonkwo, who, it said, used derogatory remarks on air.
“The commission therefore drew the attention of the broadcast station to broadcast rule and code 1.10.3, 3.3.1(a), 3.3.3©, 3.3.1 (e), 5.3.3(b) and 5.5.6.
“Arise TV is advised to install a delay mechanism to guard against undesirable contents as prescribed in section 5.5.6 of the broadcasting code,” the letter read.
The warning comes after the Commission fined Arise TV N2m in February 2023 for breaching Nigeria’s broadcasting codes.
