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NBC Meeting Urges Balance, Respect in Political Broadcast

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A family meeting called by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has urged broadcast stations to ensure balance and give access to all shades of opinion with due respect to professionalism, the Code and the NBC Act.

Rising from one-day meeting with the theme “Political Broadcasts: Getting it Right,” the participants also recommended the constitution of political broadcast forum at state levels to take into consideration the peculiarities of each state.

The meeting which held March 19 was chaired by Mr. Osa Sunny Adun, president, DBN Television and had in attendance Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, former Minister of State for Information and Communication;  eight state commissioners of Information and two permanent secretaries.

Similarly, there were 115 proprietors/representatives of proprietors of broadcast stations of the federal and state governments, public and private stations across the country.

In his keynote address, Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, director-general, NBC, said the “family meeting was called with a view to strategizing for the betterment of the industry.

Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, registrar, APCON, presented a paper on political adverts and decency, while Mr. Mark Ojiah, secretary to the Commission, gave a welcome address in which he requested for open talks to achieve far reaching resolutions.

The meeting observed that public-owned broadcast stations operate largely as the mouth piece of government instead of representing the whole society while the private stations operate as the mouth piece of the rich and powerful. Thereby the common man is abandoned by both.

They said that instances abound when broadcasting has been used to the detriment of the nation.

Stations are increasingly coming under pressure to polarize the society along the lines of opposing political divides.

According to them, there is near-total absence of proper supervision and gate-keeping by station owners, station managers and editors and that gate-keeping is crucial and through it broadcasters are expected to use their expertise and knowledge to promote generally accepted social values and norms, especially civil and social responsibilities.

They also said that some broadcasters commit serious breaches against the provisions of the Code, which attracts severe sanctions, adding that  active Nigerian Society of Broadcasters is required.

The meeting said that broadcasters need to be wary of “super anchors” that make subjective, unprofessional and abusive remarks without consideration for fair-hearing and that government stations do not have the capacity to say no to their governors/proprietors.

“There is the challenge of disproportionate financial capacity of contending candidates and political parties. However the need for the Commission to ensure fairness cannot be over-emphasized.

Super anchors” make no effort to carry out research on issues they present on radio and television.

There is the tendency for stations to have sympathy for the political views of their owners” they said.

They therefore recommended the establishment of appropriate concept of gate-keeping in order for broadcasters to use their expertise and knowledge to promote civic and social responsibilities.

The meeting also urged the NBC to invite state governors for free discussions concerning ethical broadcasting and that broadcast stations should begin to network among themselves to red-flag unruly staff.

“There is need for effective control of the broadcast media, irrespective of their ownership so that the media is not used to the detriment of the nation.

Political advertising must comply with the APCON Code of Practice, the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the Electoral Act. In addition, all adverts should be submitted to APCON for vetting” they said.

According to them, both public and private broadcast stations are guilty of some degree of proprietary interference therefore stakeholders should rally round the Commission to sanitize the airwaves and that nobody has the right to abuse anyone on air therefore, stations must stop it. 

“The Commission must provide rules and regulation to protect broadcasters from the excesses of their proprietors. There is the need for mentoring considering the very wide generational gap between the old and new crop of broadcasters.

National interest should be foremost in the mind of broadcasters to ensure peace and stability in the polity. This kind of forum should be organized more often as we approach 2015 elections.

In factual discussion panels, people should be allowed to express their opinion, so long as there is no abuse.

The Commission should ensure proper accreditation of broadcast training institutions and establishments.

 The crisis and disaster situation in places like Borno, whenever on panelist discussion should ensure fair representation of the views and opinions of the people with first hand information on the subject matter.” They concluded.
 


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MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

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MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.

The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.

Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.

By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.

Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.

“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.

Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.

Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.

The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.

 


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IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

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International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World's Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.

Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.

According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.

He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.

Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.

According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.

He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.

Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.

IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.


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NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.

 The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.

 Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.

Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.


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