NBC Suspends the Licenses of AIT, Silverbird, Raypower, and others due to N2.66bn in Debt.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended the licenses of several radio stations, including Rhythm FM, AIT, Silverbird TV, and Raypower FM.

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Because the renewal fees, which total N2.66 billion, were not paid, the broadcast media organizations’ licenses were cancelled.

NewsReport that the NBC’s director-general, Malam Balarabe Shehu, has directed its state offices to liaise with security agencies to ensure the shutdown of the operation of the stations is enforced within the next 24 hours.

According to a statement released by the NBC on Friday, the move followed the publication of a list of stations “yet to renew their licences.”

The Commission informed that a two-week waiver was given to broadcast stations in May, after which they risked the revocation of their broadcast licences.

The NBC disclosed that three months after the publication, “some licensees are yet to pay their outstanding debts, in contravention of the National Broadcasting Commission Act CAP N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, particularly section 10(a) of the third schedule of the Act.

“Therefore, after due consideration, NBC hereby announces the revocation of the licences of the…stations and gives them 24 hours to shut down their operations. Our offices nationwide are hereby directed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.

“The broadcast regulator said the continued operation of the debtor stations is illegal and constitutes a threat to national security.”

Meanwhile, the Commission has called on other broadcast stations yet to renew their licences for the present duration to meet up within the next 30 days to avoid sanctions.

It stated further that, “The Commission also calls on all IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and all other broadcast stations that are streaming online to register with the Commission to avoid disconnection.