Nomadic Education Broadcast Licence We Gave Out, Not To Herdsmen - Nigerian Broadcasting Commission

Mr. Ekanem Antia, an Assistant Director, NBC

The regulatory body in charge of broadcasting in Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has condemned reports that the commission gave radio licence to herdsmen, elaborating that, the licence was given to National Commission for Nomadic Education to develop and maintain nomadic education outreach programmes.

Mr. Ekanem Antia, an Assistant Director in the commission, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday.

The commission said that the National Commission for Nomadic Education duly applied for a broadcast license in furtherance of its objectives to develop and maintain nomadic education outreach programmes, including electronically mediated ones, SaharaReporters reports.

“The Commission is reacting to the media controversy over the license granted to the National Commission for Nomadic Education for the establishment of a radio station to operate on the AM band.

“The National Commission for Nomadic Education duly applied for a Broadcast license in furtherance of its objectives to develop and maintain nomadic education outreach programmes, including electronically mediated ones.

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 “The letter of provisional approval dated September 28th, 2018, was issued to the National Commission for Nomadic Education. The duration of the license is from October 8th, 2018 to October 8th, 2023.

“The station’s programmes, which shall be purely educational, are designed to cater for the interest of migrant fishermen, herders, hunters, farmers, and migrants. Consequently, it is a misrepresentation for any person, or organization to imply that the licensed station was just for a particular group,” the NBC said.

 The Commission also disclosed that similar educational broadcast licenses were issued to institutions of higher learning and other governmental institutions with comparable needs, such as the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission, and related institutions.

“Specifically, the Commission enjoins broadcasting stations to take special note of the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which emphasize peace and national integration.

“While upholding professionalism and observing global best practices, stations are further advised to treat potentially divisive issues with tact and sensitivity,” the NBC said.

The management of NBC called on all broadcasting stations to exercise restraint in the treatment of sensitive issues that could threaten the unity and stability of Nigeria.

The NBC enjoined broadcasting stations to be professional and take guidance from the Nigeria Broadcasting Code at all times.

 It reminded all broadcasters to be mindful of their social responsibility to promote the well-being and peaceful co-existence of the various groups in the country in keeping with the objectives of broadcasting in Nigeria.