By Zakariyya Adaramola
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned
four popular television stations in the country over hate speech, Director
General of NBC, Malam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu said during a press conference in
Abuja yesterday.
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), African Independent
Television (AIT), Channels and Television Continental (TVC) were sanctioned for
allowing hate speeches by politicians from both the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to be
aired on their networks.
Kawu, who didn’t mention the specific sanctions against the
media houses were, said the letters to the affected organisations notifying
them about the sanction were awaiting delivery in his office.
He said the four stations failed to shut out chieftains of
both parties who willfully engaged in hate speeches during their political
campaigns.
“Broadcasters have a
huge responsibility of protecting and guiding our democracy, and we have a very
huge responsibility of ensuring that we don’t promote violence or anything that
can lead to it,” he said.
“We have discovered that despite our repeated warnings some
broadcast stations still allow politicians to let out hate speeches which are
capable of throwing this country into crisis.
“We have prepared sanctions and the letters to this effect
will be delivered to them soonest. These broadcast stations include NTA, AIT,
Channels, TVC and some other radio stations.”
He advised the media houses against allowing themselves to
be used by politicians, warning that this would affect their credibility.
Source: daily trust
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