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2023: Clamp Down On TV, Radio Stations Airing ‘Inciting Broadcasts’ – FG Instructs NBC

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The Federal Government has directed the National Broadcasting Commission to wield its big stick on television and radio stations airing “inciting broadcasts” as politicking for the 2023 general election gets intense.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the directive on Thursday at the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Commission in Abuja.

Mohammed, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and one of the members of the Federal Executive Council, also tasked the Board to fast-track the implementation of the government’s Digital Switch Over.

Addressing the reconstituted Board, the minister said, “The most important task facing NBC today is to successfully transition the broadcast industry from analog to digital broadcasting, through the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project. While NBC is the implementing agency for this all-important project, a Ministerial Task Force on DSO, under my chairmanship, is driving the project.

“As quick background information, we launched the pilot phase of the project in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016, and, since then, we have launched the DSO here in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, Lagos, and Kano states.

“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target. But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria.

“Also, please note that as we move closer to the 2023 general elections, NBC will come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during, and after the 2019 general elections, when some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts. It is important for the Commission to ensure that its licensees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code.”

The NBC had at various times sanctioned television and radio stations including Arise TV, Channels TV, AIT, and Nigeria Info over what the Commission termed “unprofessional broadcasts” and “hate speech”.

It was reported that the government suspended the operations of microblogging site Twitter in Nigeria last June before lifting the ban this January after overwhelming international and national outrage.

The government is also pushing for an anti-social media bill in the National Assembly and seeking to amend the Nigerian Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act that is currently before the legislative arm to have more control over the press but the bills have expressed pushbacks from many civil society organizations and media veterans who accused the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of suppressing freedom of expression and clandestinely using Mohammed to bring back the infamous Decree 4 of 1984, enacted during his days as Nigeria’s military ruler.

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Lawmaker’s Bid To Revoke Airstrip Licences Is Lack Of Aviation Knowledge — Aviation Minister Keyamo

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has referred to the attempt by a member of the House of Representatives to revoke the licences of certain airstrips in the country as “a lack of understanding of the aviation industry.”

Addressing the concerns raised by the lawmaker on his X handle on Saturday, Keyamo explained that the House of Representatives as a whole had not requested the revocation of any private airstrip licences.

This clarification followed calls by some lawmakers, particularly in the House of Representatives, for the revocation of airstrip licences belonging to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.

A member of the House of Representatives, Sulaiman Abubakar, argued that the frequent approval of airstrips for private individuals could exacerbate the country’s security challenges.

However, responding to the lawmakers’ move, Keyamo then educated the public on the operations of the aviation sector regarding licence approvals.

“I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the licence of any private airstrip. I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.

“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector. By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.

“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria.

“An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations. It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.

“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land. And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go.

“So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that.

“You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation. I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion. I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA,” he said.

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Nigeria SMEs Get A Boost As Afreximbank, Woodhall Sign $25 Million Facility To Support Export Businesses

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Woodhall Capital, a financial Services firm, has signed a $25 million loan facility with the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide a support vehicle for Nigerian SMEs entering export markets.

The signing ceremony took place during the inaugural Afreximbank SME Development Workshop and Stakeholder Engagement Programme, themed “Nurturing African SMEs: Bridging the Barriers to Export”, currently ongoing at the prestigious Zinnia Hall, Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.

While declaring the workshop—attended by over 400 stakeholders—open, the Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade & Export Development (IAED) at Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani, noted that the event is a call for Nigerian SMEs to be champions of trade that accelerate development in Africa.

“This event, held in collaboration with Woodhall Capital, aims to develop the capacity of SMEs, the backbone of Africa’s economy. It’s not just about nurturing SMEs; we’re also looking to identify financial institutions that can better serve SMEs,” she said.

In Africa, SMEs account for 90% of business activity, and studies indicate that they also represent an average of 60% of total formal employment in developed and developing countries.

Stressing the importance of the collaboration with the financial advisory firm, Awani disclosed that around 60% of SMEs struggle with access to finance.

“SMEs in Africa still face significant obstacles to growth and prosperity, as only a small fraction venture into the export market, and even fewer have sustained long-term success. Bridging these barriers can empower SMEs to thrive on a continental and global scale. Access to affordable, appropriate finance is consistently cited as a major obstacle for SMEs.

“Over the past year, Afreximbank has provided capacity-building and market access support to around three thousand SMEs across 34 countries.”

According to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, represented by the Executive Director of MSMEs at the Bank of Industry, Alhaji Shekarau Umar, out of the 58 African countries, 39 do not have populations exceeding 39 million.

“So if, in Nigeria, we have SMEs alone totalling 39 million, it means that selecting Nigeria to launch the inaugural workshop is both deliberate and significant. We believe that Afreximbank’s interventions will enable African SMEs to overcome barriers to cross-border trade.

“I urge you all to go beyond the traditional issues SMEs face, like access to funds, and start discussing access to markets and capacity. We must understand that the funds provided to SMEs, if not accompanied by capacity-building, will be wasted,” Dr. Uzoka-Anite said.

Other notable speakers addressing stakeholders at the workshop included the Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, Oluranti Doherty; the Governor of Nigeria’s apex bank, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by Director of Risk Management at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Blaise Ijebor; and the Head of SME Development at Afreximbank, Ody Akhanoba.

The US Consul General, Will Stevens, represented by the Managing Director of Trade at Prosper Africa, Daniele Jean-Pierre, and the founder of Oriki Group, Fola Olowu, also participated, discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

In addition to various presentations equipping over 400 Nigerian SMEs with tools for scaling up and succeeding in export, panel discussions addressed creating an enabling environment for sustainable growth and facilitating access to finance for African SMEs, with input from industry leaders across sectors.

Discussing the role of Woodhall Capital in enabling financial institutions, governments, and SMEs to access funding, the founder of the financial advisory firm, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, shared how the firm grew from a small-scale operation to a global institution with Afreximbank’s support.

“Afreximbank has been integral in taking this small company and giving us the audacity to believe an African indigenous company can go global. They have supported us with various products and the backing of our esteemed advisory board members. Woodhall Capital is living proof that a small firm, with proper training and guidance, can achieve global scale with the support of African institutions.

“This workshop demonstrates that any SME here, no matter how small, with the right mindset, can achieve success. We are here to discuss what African SMEs need to gain the right support,” she stated.

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JUST IN: Onigbongbo LCDA Chairman “Tant’olorun” Dies At 54

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Oladotun Olakanle, the Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), popularly known as “Tant’olorun”, has passed away after a brief illness.

The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the community.

Olakanle, who recently celebrated his 54th birthday, was a prominent figure in the council.

His sudden demise has left residents and politicians deeply saddened.

 

More to come…

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