The Federal Government has raised the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5 million.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, made this known in Lagos on Tuesday while unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting Code.
According to him, government has also directed broadcast stations to devote airtime for public education on emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on its verified Twitter handle.
The statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President, (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, quoted Mohammed as saying the amendments were necessitated by a Presidential directive in the wake of the 2019 general elections for an inquiry into the regulatory role of the National Broadcasting Commission as well as the conduct of the various broadcast stations before, during and after elections.
The reviewed Nigeria Broadcasting Code contains the Antitrust provision aimed at boosting local content and encouraging the growth of the local industry, among other provisions.
The Minister said the Antitrust provision will boost local content and local industry due to laws prohibiting exclusive use of rights by broadcasters who intend to create monopolies and hold the entire market to themselves.
According to him, the Antitrust provision would also encourage open access to premium content.
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“I must explain that this provision is not new to Nigeria Broadcasting. Exclusivity was disallowed at a certain time in the history of our broadcasting. I recall Multichoice sub-licensing EPL matches to other local operators in Nigeria. I recall HITV engaging several local operators on sub-licensing the EPL when they got the rights,” he said.
The Minister further disclosed that the revised Code contains the law prohibiting backlog of advertising debts in order to promote sustainability for the station owners and producers of content, as well as the law on registration of Web Broadcasting, which will grant the country the opportunity to regulate negative foreign broadcasts that can harm the nation.
“The provisions on responsibility of broadcast stations to devote airtime to national emergencies obviously mandates terrestrial and Pay TV channels to make their services available to Nigerians at time of national emergencies – like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – for their education and enlightenment,” the Minister also said.
“The amended Code also includes the provision raising the fine for hate speech from 500,000 Naira to 5 million Naira,” Mohammed said, adding that the Federal government was not bothered by attacks by some vested interests, who believe that their singular business interest is superior to national interest, over the provisions of the amended Code.
“But, as it currently stands, the 6th edition and the amendments, which we are unveiling today, remain the regulations for broadcasting in Nigeria. Our intention remains the good of the country. We need to catalyze the growth of the local industry. We need to create jobs for our teeming creative youths. The opportunities must be created and we believe that effective regulatory interventions are a sure way of attaining this. That’s why we will not waver,” the Minister stressed.
Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Director General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, commended the present administration for its interest in the development of the Broadcasting Industry through the implementation of reforms and several other interventions.
The event was attended by officials of NBC and other stakeholders in the Broadcasting Industry.
