Broadcasting
New Broadcast Code: Assault on Market and Democracy
By ‘Kanmi Ademiluyi
With the focus on survival due to the coronavirus pandemic, out comes a not-so-cleverly-disguised assault on the operations of an economy based on the efficacy of the market, but also a potential limitation on the plurality which anchors a democracy.
As democrats and with the backdrop of the observation of the first celebration of the defining date of June 12 as Democracy Day, it is unsafe to allow the existential threat of COVID-19 to make us complacent about opaque threats to the country’s hard-won democracy, which is still a work in progress.
The threat to innovation, the consolidation of intellectual property rights as well as the operations of a market-propelled economic system by the 6th National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code should not be allowed to distort the country’s political economy.
The ethos of the code released to the public by the NBC on May 27 is in direct contradistinction to the thrust of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to build a society that ensures those who produce and create sustainable jobs are given the pride of place, as opposed to the ethos which fetes those who deal in favours.
The latter is what the celebrated Afrobeat exponent, Fela Anikulpao-Kuti, decades ago, famously branded “Paddy, Paddy arrangements”.
The cronyism-fired arrangements described by Fela not only failed to deliver economic growth, but crucially stifled innovation and made the country uncompetitive with disastrous results.
The country is still paying the price for cronyism and incestuous market-distorting economic relationships till date.
Although in its opening gambit, the 6th NBC Code peddles a sanctimonious sermon: “To maintain and promote efficient market and conduct effective competition in the broadcast industry in Nigeria…”, looked at closely, it is anything but pro-competition.
For the evolution of modern market-oriented economies in democracies is underpinned by a robust defence of intellectual property rights as a propelling trajectory in innovation and content development.
This has been the source of the continued success of places like Hollywood, Bollywood and other media markets.
Dangerously, swathes of provisions in the code prohibit exclusivity, ominously compel content sub- licensing to competitors and empowers the NBC to determine sub-licensing fees in the event of a dispute.
These provisions will certainly inhibit investments in Nigeria’s potentially rich and relatively untapped local content production sector.
What is intended through the backdoor in the absence of open hearings in full public glare and with the inputs of all stakeholders is a brutal assault on intellectual property rights, the prospects of content development as well as diversity, which are vital ingredients in a market economy.
These stifling provisions are straight out of the Command Economy playbook. This is odd. Command economies exhausted the limits of their possibilities and imploded decades ago.
No wonder the promoters are in mortal terror of open public hearings, which will clearly expose the shenanigans and the real anti-competitive intent underneath the sanctimonious sermons. As stated by major stakeholders, the Code was finalised without input from them.
All of this is bizarre in an industry oiled by creativity in which whole financial instruments have been developed, whereby trading in intellectual property rights is taking place very much as a commodity.
Eroding proprietary rights by making exclusivity illegal and compelling [this is as draconian as is imaginable] sub-licensing of content and regulating price (remember the debacle of previous corruption-fuelled attempts at “price controls”?) will clearly stifle private enterprise with the sort of interference, which begins by distorting markets and eventually kills them off.
The contempt of the framework accepted internationally in intellectual property safeguards and commercial proprietary rights is mind-boggling.
The purported objective of the related provision is an enthronement of fair market competition, especially for new market entrants.
It compels rights owners to live foreign sporting events, for example, to offer such to broadcasters on different platforms at an agreed fee and in the event of a dispute, the NBC will determine what is to be paid. The Code also prohibits the bundling of Nigeria “in the same basket with other countries in the sale of football rights.”
Acquisition of sports broadcasting rights is a commercially-competitive process, with the prerogative of how to sell and to whom exclusively that of the rights owners.
Code’s sub-licensing proposal does not take cognizance of the fact a licensee, which has acquired the rights after paying competitive a rate, suffers an inability to differentiate its service from that of competitors— to whom it’s forced to sell at a regulated maximum price—and an erosion of the value of the rights because it cannot use them exclusively.
The Code similarly ignores the fact that granting of sub-licensing rights is not guaranteed, leaving a licensee with the burden of having to negotiate for sub-licensing rights for which the owner— knowing a re-sale is in the offing— will demand a substantially heftier sum. It is not just broadcasters of live foreign sports content that will be affected by the bid to institute a command economy process. It is also a doomsday scenario for general entertainment platforms such as Filmhouse Cinema, Africa Magic, Netflix, Irokotv and prospective entrants. With this framework, no investor in his/her right mind will waste money and energy developing content to then donate to those who deal in favours.
If implemented, the code will bring an end to pay TV in Nigeria. The multiplier effect will manifest in job losses and leaner tax revenues.
Out of obscurity over three or so decades, a vibrant creative industry has developed in Nigeria, a tribute to the country’s commercial attributes and can-do attitude.
The industry has shown that economic diversification can be translated into more than shibboleths and vacuous sloganeering.
The industry has shown the way and made us all proud. Any readjusting of a winning model must, at least, be preceded by multi-stakeholder consultations and public hearings.
The latter, vitally, will see the consumers making input and helping to build a consensus for the benefit of all.
This will prevent the rent-seekers who have continued to swing a wrecking ball at the economy, seeing the creative industry as just another gravy train to hop on. It will be tragic if that happens.
Ademiluyi, an economist and journalist, wrote from Oshogbo.
South Africa’s competition authority announced Wednesday it had approved the buyout of Africa’s largest pay TV enterprise MultiChoice by France’s Canal+, which wants to expand its footprint on the continent.
The merger, which has been in the works for nearly a year, needs the final go-ahead from the commission’s Competition Tribunal, it said in a statement.
Canal+ holds around 45 percent of MultiChoice’s shares and offered last year to acquire the remainder for 125 rand (6.16 euro) per share.
Canal+ is present in 25 African countries through 16 subsidiaries and has eight million subscribers, according to the French group.
MultiChoice operates in 50 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and has 19.3 million subscribers, it said.
It includes Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, SuperSport, and the DStv satellite television service.
“This is a major step forward in our ambition to create a global media and entertainment company with Africa at its heart,” Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said in a statement.
The commission said its approval of the merger was subject to public-interest conditions worth about 26 billion rand over three years, including increasing the shareholding of people disadvantaged under South Africa’s white-minority apartheid regime.
It will also maintain the MultiChoice headquarters in South Africa.
A date for the Tribunal’s decision on the merger has not been announced but Canal+ said it was aiming for the deal to be completed by early October.
By Ope Adeoye
In the bustling market of Bodija in Ibadan, you’ll find Mama Fola sitting under her umbrella stall, a ledger open beside her cooler of peppered ponmo and egusi. She’s not just a food seller — she’s also a long-time member of the Ire Ayo Traders Cooperative, a savings group that has supported women in the market for nearly 15 years.
Ope Adeoye
But until recently, that support came with a cost — not just in naira, but in time, energy, and emotional stress.
“Every week, our collection officer would walk stall to stall to collect our contributions,” Mama Fola says. “Sometimes we’d forget. Sometimes there was no change. And sometimes, we’d say ‘come back tomorrow’ — and she’d have to come back again.”
Across Nigeria, cooperative societies have long served as community lifelines — helping everyday people save money, access loans, and weather economic storms. But for all the good they do, many cooperatives still face one silent struggle: getting members to pay consistently, and on time.
And at a time when Nigeria is grappling with record inflation, currency devaluation, and reduced access to formal credit, the stakes have never been higher. If cooperatives — which serve as the main financial entry point for nearly half of adult Nigerians — cannot function efficiently, millions could be locked out of essential economic support.
In markets from Lagos to Kaduna, collection officers make daily rounds, send endless reminders, and often spend more time chasing payments than managing finances. This friction doesn’t just cause stress — it limits the ability of cooperatives to grow, plan, and include more members.
The high cost of missed contributions
For Ire Ayo, late payments weren’t just an annoyance — they were a structural challenge. Delays meant they couldn’t disburse loans on time. New members were limited, because it was too hard to track everyone. And when members dropped out, they rarely came back.
“People think running a cooperative is just about collecting money,” says Titilayo Adebayo, the society’s administrator. “But it’s really about trust. If members don’t pay, the group suffers. And if you’re always chasing people for money, that trust breaks down.”
A 2023 study by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) found that nearly 46% of adult Nigerians rely on informal financial groups like cooperatives. Yet many of these groups still operate with pen and paper, and struggle to scale or sustain their services.
A quiet shift: From reminders to reliability
In 2024, Titilayo introduced a small but significant change. After consulting with members and local tech partners, Ire Ayo moved to a direct debit system that allowed members to approve a one-time mandate for monthly contributions.
“I was skeptical at first,” she says. “Would members trust it? Would it work with all our banks?”
But within the first month, collection rates went up by 30%. Members started receiving debit alerts — without reminders, without awkward follow-ups. Contributions became predictable. And Titilayo? She finally had time to do more than chase money.
“Now, I help members plan how to use their savings. We’ve started financial literacy sessions. We’re even exploring group insurance.”
What automation unlocked
The benefits weren’t just operational. For members like Mama Fola, the system gave her dignity — and peace of mind.
“Sometimes I’d feel ashamed when I delayed payment,” she admits. “Now, the money goes quietly, and I feel proud that I’m still part of something.”
The cooperative also began welcoming younger traders, okada riders, and even diaspora members who wanted to support family members back home.
One of the tools the group used was PaywithAccount — a direct debit solution developed by Nigerian fintech company OnePipe, which allows businesses and organisations to securely pull payments from customer bank accounts with consent.
For cooperatives, this kind of tool isn’t about going digital for the sake of it. It’s about removing the friction that slows down their mission.
“We’re not trying to be a tech company,” Titilayo laughs. “We just want to help people save better, borrow responsibly, and build something together.”
Why this matters now
Cooperatives are the frontline institutions of Nigeria’s financial resilience — especially for people the formal banking sector still hasn’t reached.
In a country where small businesses account for over 80% of employment, and where trust in digital finance is still growing, making it easier for people to save and contribute consistently can have ripple effects. It can stabilise communities, fuel micro-enterprises, reduce reliance on predatory lending, and help millions move from survival to stability.
“When our people save better, they live better,” Titilayo reflects. “And when they live better, the economy can breathe.”
A new kind of progress
The shift may look like a technical adjustment — but in reality, it’s a quiet revolution. Not just in how people pay, but in how they build control, confidence, and collective progress.
It’s a reminder that financial inclusion doesn’t always mean big ideas or flashy innovations. Sometimes, it’s as simple — and powerful — as making it easier to pay what you already planned to.
And for cooperatives like Ire Ayo, that kind of ease is helping turn every contribution into something greater: a pathway to stability, dignity, and shared success.
Broadcasting
Anambra State Government Launches SolutionLens to Drive Transparency and Citizen Engagement
Anambra State Government has launched SolutionLens, a technology-driven platform aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in governance.
The platform, developed through a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Information, and the Anambra State ICT Agency, was unveiled on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Solution Innovation District (SID) Building in Awka.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, described SolutionLens as a democratic tool that simplifies the Open Government Partnership (OGP) process.
She emphasized its role in planning, budgeting, and fostering investor confidence through community-based feedback mechanisms.
In her remarks, Mrs. Ogochukwu Orji, the State Coordinator of OGP, noted that SolutionLens is designed to shine a light on public projects, empowering citizens to ask questions, hold the government accountable, and ensure resources are used for the common good.
Key Features of SolutionLens
Centralized digital hub for government projects
Interactive maps with a user-friendly interface
Live chat feature to connect citizens directly with MDAs
A live demonstration of the platform was conducted, followed by the formal inauguration of MDA focal persons, who will ensure the platform remains updated and responsive.
Participants commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, for this forward-thinking initiative, describing SolutionLens as a game-changer in governance.
The government urged citizens to actively engage with the platform and spread awareness, emphasizing that this initiative will safeguard the integrity and prosperity of Anambra State for generations to come.
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