Broadcasting
FG Mulls N75bn Intervention Fund for MSMEs — Minister
Federal Government says it is putting in place a N75 billion intervention fund to support small businesses in response to the country’s current economic challenges.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said this at the beginning of the 18th Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trade fair is with the theme “Sustainable Financing and Taxation”.
Uzoka-Anite, represented by the Director of Commodity and Export in the ministry, Mr Kaura Irimiya, said the fund, which would be disbursed in March 2024 was to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
The minister said that the Federal Government would also provide small grants to micro businesses in each of the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
According to her, the government has announced a plan to support small businesses and startups in Nigeria in response to the country’s current economic challenges.
“We intend to spend N75 billion by March 2024 to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
“We also intend to provide small grants to micro businesses in each to the 774 local governments of the federation.
“We have also earmarked a fund of N75 billion that will be used to support up to 100,000 start-ups and MSMEs at single digital interest rates repayable over 36 months.
“Last week, we launched the National Technology Export (NATEP) programme, in partnership with Microsoft.
“And earlier this year we launched the over $600 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program, in partnership with African Development Bank and other partners,’’ she said.
The minister emphasised that empowering MSMEs was key to empowering youths and women and enabling them to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
According to her, the growth of MSMEs has a positive impact on the economy as it enables individuals to support their families and add value.
In his message, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike expressed the administration’s readiness to collaborate with the private sector to reposition economic and business activities in the city.
Represented by the Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning in FCT, Mr Chinedu Elechi, Wike solicited the cooperation of the private sector, especially in the area of taxation toward boosting the FCT internally generated revenue.
Speaking earlier on the theme of the fair, the President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said: “ AITF had served as a trusted global trade destination attracting over 500,000 consumers.’’
He said that the trade fair provided a platform for business relationships, trade opportunities and ideas.
“As a leading chamber of commerce and industry, we continuously strive to improve the quality of our trade events and this year we have added side attractions such as rewards, free jollof rice tasting and a fashion runway to enhance the fair’s appeal,” Abubakar said.
According to him, the trade fair is part of ACCI’s initiative to connect businesses and create a platform for policymakers to interact with the business community, recognising the vital role of small businesses in the national economy.
“We encourage everyone to participate in the 12-day event, engage in business networking and attend special days organised by government Agencies, Ministries and Parastatals, States, private sector and countries,” Abubakar added..
Credit: NAN
Metro Digital Limited, a licenced Indigenous broadcasting organisation, has accused Multichoice, pay television company, of refusing to obey judgements emanating from Courts in Nigeria.
It said the latest of such judgements is the one that was delivered by Justice Chinelo Odili of Rivers State High Court on May 4, 2026 in Suit No. PHC/3943/FHR/2025.
Dr. Paul Osuji, operations manager of Metro Digital, at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
said the suit was filed by the organisation and two others against Multichoice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Osuji stated that Justice Odili has in the judgement described the arrest of a staff member of the company and the carting away of it’s properties and disruption of it’s broadcasting business by the EFCC over a civil dispute of copyrighy as unlawful and violations of the applicants’ rights.
The manager recalled that in October 2025, Multichoice instigated the EFCC to read their office in Port Harcourt, arrested a staff of the company and staff of another company, while the suit was still pending.
“On October 16, 2025, the premises of Metro Digital Limited, a licenced indigenous broadcasting organisation was raided by the Nigerian anti-graft agency, EFCC, instigated by Multichoice Nigeria, purportedly acting on a preservation order made by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the sub licensing of broadcasting content right.
“The preservation order came from a civil dispute already adjudicated by the Court of Appeal No. CA/CS/188/2021 – Multichoice Vs Metro Digital Limited and 20 others, which is a subject of a pending appeal -No. SC/CV/1248/2022 -Multichoice and 20 others before the Supreme Court.
“Instructively, while suit No. PHC/ 3943/ FHR/2025 was still pending, Metro Digital Limited filed an application to set aside the said preservation orders of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Hon. Justice A.T Mohammed.
“In his ruling delivered on December 10, 2025, set aside the preservation orders and it’s legal execution on Metro Digital Limited. The court also ordered EFCC to return unconditionally all the properties and records of Metro Digital Limited, illegally and unlawfully carted away during the raid but the agency has till today not obeyed those orders of the Court,” he said.
Metro Digital Limited is known for operating SLTV, a direct-to-home satellite television service launched to provide affordable, locally-owned alternatives to international pay TV
A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning or punishing broadcast stations and presenters over the expression of personal opinions, alleged bullying of guests, or failure to maintain neutrality on air.
NBC
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the interim injunction following an ex parte application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The court specifically restrained the NBC, its officers, agents and affiliated persons from enforcing its recently issued “Formal Notice” or imposing sanctions, fines or penalties on broadcasters based on provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
SERAP and NGE had approached the court to challenge what they described as an arbitrary and unlawful move by the commission to punish broadcasters for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality during programmes.
The groups also asked the court to determine whether the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon by NBC were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
The suit followed an April statement by the NBC in which it raised concerns over what it described as increasing violations of the broadcasting code across news, current affairs and political programmes.
The commission had warned that presenters who expressed personal opinions as facts or bullied guests during live broadcasts would be sanctioned.
However, Justice Osiagor, in his ruling, held that pending the hearing of the substantive matter, the commission must refrain from using the formal notice to threaten, sanction or punish broadcast organisations and on-air personalities under the contested code provisions.
The matter was adjourned until June 1, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Metro Digital Limited before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over alleged cybercrime and unlawful interception and rebroadcast of content belonging to Multichoice Nigeria.
Metro Digital
The company was arraigned before Justice A.T. Mohammed on an amended four-count charge bordering on cybercrime-related offences and alleged illegal rebroadcast of protected broadcast content.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.
However, defence counsel, S.A. Somairi (SAN), reportedly attempted to halt the proceedings by drawing the court’s attention to a pending preliminary objection.
The judge, however, declined the request and ordered that the plea be taken in line with Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which allows a corporation to enter a plea in writing through its representative.
One of the charges alleged that Metro Digital Limited, alongside its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and a staff member, Ikenna Kanu, both said to be at large, conspired between 2015 and 2019 to unlawfully intercept and rebroadcast protected broadcast signals in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
Another charge alleged that the defendants intentionally and without authorisation intercepted and rebroadcast broadcast signals and devices, including tiger boxes and dongles, over which Multichoice Nigeria holds exclusive rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The anti-graft agency said investigations into the matter began in 2019 after Multichoice petitioned the commission, alleging that the illegal rebroadcast of its content caused significant financial losses.
Metro Digital Limited, through its representative, pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel prayed the court to fix a date for trial.
Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the case until June 29 and June 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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