N2.7bn debt: NBC Suspends Shutdown of AIT, Silverbird, Others

The National Broadcasting Commission on friday, temporary suspended the shutdown of indebted broadcast stations in the country.

The Commission gave the affected stations a three-day grace to complete their payments.

Daily Report Nigeria recalls that NBA last week announced the revocation of licences of African Independent Television (AIT), Silverbird TV, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM, and others over debts amounting to N2.6bn.

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The Director-General of the NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, noted that some of the affected stations had not renewed their licences since 2015 and warned them to do so in 30 days to avoid sanction.

But the NBC, in a statement titled, “Temporary Suspension” and signed by the DG on Friday, said it suspended the shutdown following the positive responses it received from the debtor licensees.

“Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with executives of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and other critical stakeholders in the industry, the commission has decided to temporarily suspend the shutdown of the indebted broadcast stations all over the country,” it said.

“We express our profound appreciation to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the affected licensees and broadcast stakeholders in the industry for their responses and interventions. We specifically thank Daar Communications Ltd and Silverbird TV/Rhythm FM for their responses.

“The commission is not unaware of the difficulties this shutdown must have caused the operators and other stakeholders but must state that the commission will always operate with the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”