Yomi Bolanriwa, director general, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said that the president, Umaru Musa YarÁdua has directed the Commission to begin fresh bidding process for an additional radio and television network stations in the country.
Bolanriwa said the expected additional network stations are to operate alongside the existing Federal Government owned radio and television networks, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He said the move was within the framework of Federal Government’s economic reform programme aimed at modernising the Nigerian economy and expanding the role of the private sector in driving sustained development.
"After 77 years of radio broadcasting, 50 years of television broadcasting and 17 years of broadcast deregulation in Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the NBC felt it desirable and imperative to increase the number of broadcast networks in the country.
"The commission has therefore sought and received the gracious approval of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to commence the licensing process for commercially operated and privately owned radio and television network services to operate alongside the existing Federal Government owned radio and television networks" Bolanriwa added.