Retract fines on broadcasters or face visa ban, group writes NBC’s Idachaba
Concerned Nigerians on Monday petitioned Amstrong Idachaba of the NBC, warning the top regulator to immediately reverse his recent sanctions against broadcasters of face travel restrictions.
Mr. Idachaba fined AIT, Arise and Channels earlier this week, accusing them of sourcing videos from social media in their coverage of #EndSARS.
The stations were fined a combined N9 million, the regulator said, proceeding to separately slam additional charges on AIT for using a video that depicted attempted arson at a church in Abuja.
The fines were widely condemned as illegal, with organisations like SERAP and NUJ seeking its reversal.
Concerned Nigerians joined the demand in a letter to Mr. Idachaba on Thursday.
“If the sanction on these media platforms is not reversed, we will be left with no other option but to write to the US government, UK government and the European Union to place visa ban on you and your immediate family for suppressing press freedom in Nigeria,” the group’s director Deji Adeyanju said in the October 28 letter seen by Peoples Gazette.
A spokesman for NBC did not immediately return requests seeking comments about the letter Thursday morning.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria positioned to power clean energy Future: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu expressed his firm commitment to improve the developmental partnership between the European Union and Nigeria.
Africa
Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out malaria vaccines
With the announcement on World Malaria Day, the number of African countries incorporating the vaccines into their childhood immunisation programmes increased to eight.
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.
