Broadcasting
Domicilation of NBC in Ministry of Information and Culture; a Grave Misplacement
by Kayode Ahmadu
All players in the broadcasting value chain from equipment manufacturers to content providers are being affected by the impact of rapid evolution of broadcast technology and the growth of broadband internet access.
These developments demand higher technical quality with improved coverage and improved efficient utilization of spectrum from regulators, who have to be strong and efficient in their drive to deliver bespoke first in class broadcast services.
The need, therefore, of commensurate technical capacity and knowhow cannot be over emphasized.
Regulation both on international and regional levels require high technical skills and knowledge in order to manage frequency spectrum and in particular decisions adopted at high levels of ITU (International Telecommunications Union), which is a United Nations specialized agency formed to “facilitate international connectivity in communications networks”. Frequency spectrum is allocated globally by ITU and it also develops technical standards to ensure standardization in the ICT world.
As we are now in the age of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), it is apposite to take a close look at the meaning of the term ICT. The term ICT is made up of Information Technology (IT) which relates to Computer Hardware, Software and Peripherals; and Communications Technology which involves Telecommunications and Broadcasting. The current use of the term ICT is firmly established and it implies corresponding physical moves towards the convergence of service and technologies. In particular Telecommunications and Broadcasting can today use the same technology for transmission e.g. Information Protocol (IP) Technology, Fibre Optic Cable, Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and Radio.
Furthermore, transmission and frequency control are coordinated using information technology hardware and software like Computers and Software Programmes.
In line with the above, Governments the world over are also ‘getting with the Programme’ by making their policies and administration fit into an ICT or convergence model; whereby the Broadcasting, Information Communications and Postal Services are under the same Ministry and or, are regulated by the same super regulatory Body, albeit called by varying names.
Let’s look at the ICT Industry supervising structure of some Countries that pioneered the development of ICT as well as Countries with comparable levels of development to Nigeria:
* The United States of America ‘Federal Communications Commission’ FCC regulates both International and local Communications by Radio, Television, Wire, Satellite and Cable and is responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s Communications Law and regulations. It is an independent U.S. Government Agency overseen by Congress.
* The United Kingdom has it’s Office of Communications Ofcom established in 2003 to replace Organizations, namely Oftel, the ITC, the Radio Authority, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Broadcasting Standards Commission. This includes Spectrum Management and Auctioning. In addition, since 2011 it took over Postcomm’s functions to include regulation of postal services. Along with 45 other Public Bodies Ofcom supports the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
* In Malaysia The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regulates the Communications and Multimedia Industries based on the powers provided in the Malaysian Act 1998 and Strategic Trade Act 2010. Apart from pursuing the Government’s policy objectives for the Sectors, MCMC oversees the new regulatory framework for the converging Telecommunication and Broadcasting Industries and online activities. In 2001 Postal Services and licensing under the 1991 Act and the Certification Authorities under the Digital Signature Act 1997 were added.
* Nearer home, under it’s Ministry of Communication and Technology Ghana has its National Communications Authority (NCA), which has the responsibility of regulating Telecommunications, Frequency Spectrum, Broadcasting Authorization, Amateur Radio Licencing, Numbering, Standards & Clearance, Schedule of Fees amongst others.
*South Africa has its Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICSA). It was established in July 2000 by merging the Telecommunications Regulator, the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). In 2005 the Postal Regulator was included.
We can go on and on with scenarios in numerous countries but for the constraint of space in this short position paper.
This trend enables Countries to fully take advantage of convergence and its underlying concomitant benefits. A single knowledgeable and agile Agency is ideal and more likely to bring about policies, activities, infrastructure and an enabling environment such as shared media and spectrum or facilitate services in underserved and unserved areas to bridge the digital divide.
In Nigeria we still have separate Regulators for the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Industries. Worse still, they are under separate Ministries. Again, we need to ask the nagging question…”why Nigeria is still lagging behind”? Why are we not conforming with this obvious global trend?
Thankfully though our visionary President Muhammadu Buharihas gone one step towards convergence by renaming the Communications Ministry as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
A development that is quite commendable and apt. Government needs to however take the next bold step of moving the NBC from its current misfit stead, into a single super regulatory Body for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Sectorsunder the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy
This would automatically put Nigeria in step with universal best practices and prevailing trends, as we have seen in the examples mentioned above.
The move would also position the NBC in a better environment than it is presently, to tackle the challenges of ongoing Digital Switch Over (DSO).
It is imperative to note that Nigeria has significant deadlines issues with this exercise and thus must take steps to ensure success this time around.
The success of the DSO is not negotiable as it would be of enormous economic benefit to the country and would also be greatly impactful on the quality of broadcasting services made available to the citizens at large; not to mention its job creation potentials.
In conclusion, domiciling NBC and its activities, especially the ongoing DSO, in the Information and Culture Ministry is a gross misplacement.
It portends danger that could be of grave consequences if the needful is not done immediately.
KAYODE AHMADU
B.Sc (Hons) Physics, 1981 – Jos
M.Sc Physics/Electronics, 1986 – Jos
LCOR Harvard Business School, Massachusetts USA
More than 100 channels have signed on to broadcast free-to-air digital content under Nigeria’s Digital Switchover (DSO) programme, marking a major milestone in the country’s transition to digital broadcasting.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the development followed the unveiling of FreeTV, a free-to-air direct-to-home (DTH) national platform supported by satellite and Internet Protocol (IP) delivery.
According to the commission, the platform offers a broad mix of content targeted at Nigerian households.
It said the channel line-up includes 14 news and current affairs stations, 15 general entertainment channels, six kids and family channels, two lifestyle and talk shows, three music and entertainment channels, one business and finance station, and five movie channels.
The commission added that 57 of the channels are already live and accessible through the FreeTV app and the NigSat satellite platform.
It advised viewers to download the FreeTV application from Google Play Store to access the services.
Director-General of NBC, Charles Ebuebu, said the initiative would improve television access and viewing quality for Nigerians.
“We will deliver digital TV with clearer pictures, more free channels, and opportunities for every family.
“It is one simple change for a better future,” he said.
Ebuebu noted that with over 100 stations onboard and a satellite-led strategy, Nigeria’s digital migration was making significant progress.
The DSO project was launched in 2008 following the Geneva 2006 Agreement (GE06) as part of efforts to modernise the nation’s broadcasting ecosystem.
Its objectives include improving picture and sound quality, freeing up spectrum space for broadband development, and supporting Nigeria’s creative industry.
The commission acknowledged that the project had faced delays despite its official launch in 2016 and an earlier pilot phase in Jos.
It said nationwide implementation had remained slow due to infrastructural and logistical challenges.
According to NBC, a major turnaround came after President Bola Tinubu approved a N10 billion intervention fund in August 2024 to accelerate the project.
The commission said the funding enabled the adoption of a new satellite-first model under a partnership between NBC and the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT).
The strategy replaces the earlier terrestrial tower-heavy rollout with direct satellite broadcasting using the NigComSat-1R satellite.
“This technological leap is expected to accelerate nationwide rollout by over 65 per cent while avoiding infrastructure bottlenecks,” Ebuebu said.
He added that about 10 million Nigerian households already own satellite-ready televisions or DVB-S2 set-top boxes and can immediately access the channels.
For households without compatible devices, NBC said hybrid set-top boxes combining satellite reception and internet streaming would be introduced.
The commission added that the DSO initiative would also support local content creation, with 40 per cent of channel slots allocated to independent and regional producers.
It said plans were also underway for local production of five million set-top boxes annually, a move expected to generate more than 20,000 jobs.
Music streaming platform Spotify has introduced a new verification system, “Verified by Spotify,” to help users identify authentic human artists and distinguish them from AI-generated music content.
Spotify
The company disclosed that the new verification badge, represented by a green checkmark on artist profiles and search results, would be rolled out in the coming weeks.
Spotify said only artists who meet specific authenticity requirements would qualify for verification.
According to the company, eligibility criteria include consistent listener engagement, compliance with platform policies, and proof of an active presence beyond the platform, such as live performances or verified social media activity.
“In the AI era, it is more important than ever to be able to trust the authenticity of the music you listen to,” Spotify said in a statement.
The company added that more than 99 per cent of artists actively searched by users are expected to be verified at launch, covering hundreds of thousands of musicians across multiple genres and regions.
Spotify’s move comes amid a rapid rise in AI-generated music on streaming services.
Music platform Deezer recently reported that approximately 44 per cent of daily uploads on its platform are fully AI-generated, while Apple Music has also recorded growing uploads created using artificial intelligence tools.
Spotify stated that profiles primarily dedicated to AI-generated music or virtual personas would not be eligible for the verification badge.
The company said the policy forms part of broader efforts to improve transparency and build user trust on the platform.
In addition to the verification badge, Spotify is also rolling out expanded profile details for all artists, including release history, touring activity, and career milestones.
The company described the feature as similar to “nutrition facts” for music, offering listeners clearer insight into an artist’s background and credibility.
Spotify noted that the initiative is part of wider measures to address growing concerns around AI in the music industry, including impersonation, spam uploads, and reduced visibility for human creators.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have jointly sued the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over what they described as an “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful” threat to sanction broadcast stations and presenters.
The development was disclosed in a Sunday statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, and Onuoha Ukeh, general secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
According to the statement, SERAP and NGE challenged a recent directive by NBC, warning presenters and journalists against “expressing personal opinions as facts,” “bullying or intimidating guests,” and failing to maintain neutrality.
The statement reads, “SERAP and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful ‘Formal Notice’, which threatens to sanction broadcast stations and presenters for allegedly ‘expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality.’
“The NBC had recently threatened to sanction broadcast stations and presenters who ‘express personal opinions as facts’ or ‘bully and intimidate guests,’ claiming it had ‘identified a sustained increase in breaches of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs, and political programmes.’”
In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/854/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos State, SERAP and NGE asked the court to determine whether the various provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon by the NBC in the directive are inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations.
According to the statement, the groups disclosed that Femi Falana (SAN), human rights lawyer, would lead a team of senior lawyers to represent SERAP and NGE in the lawsuit.
SERAP and NGE asked the court to declare that the provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code used by the NBC are vague and constitute a fundamental breach of press freedom guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards.
The statement added, “SERAP and NGE are asking the court for a declaration that the provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code used by the NBC are vague and overly broad and constitute a fundamental breach of freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards.”
The groups also sought an interim injunction to restrain the NBC, its agents and other authorities from imposing sanctions on broadcast stations and presenters based on what they described as “unlawful provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code”, pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
“SERAP and NGE are also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the NBC, its agents or privies, whether jointly or severally or any other authority, from imposing sanctions on broadcast stations and presenters based on the patently unlawful provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed simultaneously in this suit,” the statement concluded.
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