NBC revokes licences of AIT, STV, 50 other media houses.

National Broadcasting Commission says it has revoked the operating licenses of some
major broadcasting media firms in the country over their refusal to renew their licenses.
Announcing the revocation at a Press Briefing in Abuja, the Director-General of NBC,
Balarabe Shehu Ilelah instructed the affected stations to shut down operations within the
next 24 hours.

Which stations do the revocation affect?
According to the DG of NBC, the affected stations which include AIT, Silverbird TV, Raypower Fm, Rhythm Fm, Classic Fm, MITV, and 47 others were shut down for not renewing their licenses and having an outstanding debt of about N2.6 million since the year 2015, stating that their actions
is in contravention of Act CAP N11 of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

NBC also called on all Internet Protocol Television, IPTV, and other broadcast station streaming online to register with the commission to avoid disconnections. Stations that have not renewed their licenses for the current duration are mandated to do so within 30 days or risk being sanctioned.

Any response from media proprietors?
The Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, has expressed its displeasure over the decision of NBC to shut down the 52 broadcast stations. In a press statement signed by its President and General Secretary, the Guild of Editors lamented that the action by NBC can lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, if not reversed. The statement reads in part:

“While the Guild is not against broadcast stations fulfilling their financial obligations to
the NBC, we note that the current harsh operating environment that has crippled every
sector in our nation was not taken into account by the NBC before its action.”