Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria cautions Nigerian government on sale of spectrum to telecommunication operators

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has cautioned the government to halt the sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcast organisations to telecom operators because of the devastating effects the sale will have on future development of television and radio in the country.

Penpushing reports that organization gave the caution note in a communique issued at the end of its General Assembly and Annual General Meeting held at Transcorp Hotel Abuja, and anticipated consequences it will have on the general public.

The communique chairman Mr. Ahaziah Abubakar Suleiman emphasized that the organization was of the views that if the sale is allowed it will limit television broadcast in Nigeria permanently on Standard Definition (SD) while other countries are already advancing to   High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD).

Penpushing further reports that the organization agreed to use the platform of its members to call the attention of government and the general public to the looming problems that will likely take television out of the reach of the middle and lower class.

‘The General Assembly calls on Government to halt the sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcast Organisations to Telecom operators because of the devastating effects the sale will have on future development of Television and radio in Nigeria and anticipated consequences it will have on the general public.’, the communique reads

Penpushing also reports that the assembly called on the National Assembly to wade in into the matter of purported sale of the spectrum primarily allocated to broadcasting in Nigeria and warned that the decision to cohabit broadcasting with telecom has not been taken by the International Telecommunications Union.

‘The Assembly calls on Federal government to consider broadcast media houses in its planned financial assistance to small and medium businesses because of the accumulated effects running the stations during the Covid-19 pandemic in the national interests without any revenue for almost 12 months’.

‘BON agrees with the admonition given to NBC by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi that NBC should be more concerned in developing of the broadcast industry. The General Assembly calls on NBC to engage necessary stakeholders to navigate the problem slowing down digital switchover in the country with the aim of proffering workable solutions.

Penpushing reports that Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) called on individual media practitioners and broadcast media houses to ensure upholding of professionalism in the discharge of their sacred duties.

The General Assembly while analysing the renewed hope agenda of the current administration noted the desire of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition the nation’s economy, and equally called him and his team to adopt methods that will restore the value of the nation’s currency and the quick completion of turn around maintenance refineries to bring down the cost of petroleum products in the country,

Penpushing further reports that the communique while commending the Nigerian Military and other security agencies on curbing the insecurity across the country, enjoys the Military and related agencies to sustain the tempo of kinetic and non-kinetic engagements to reduce insurgence, wanton killing and kidnapping to the barest minimum.

‘The General Assembly condemn the killing of media practitioners in the country and plead with the security agencies to bring to book those that masterminded the murder of the staff of Voice of Nigeria in Zamfara.  The General Assembly during its 22nd AGM elected Alh. Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos andHigh Chief Tony Akiotu as the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively’, the communique added

‘The General Assembly expresses profound gratitude to MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for their contributions to the growth of broadcasting through Mr John Ugbe, CEO of MultiChoice and Dr.Mansur Liman who served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of BON respectively between October 2021 and October 2023’.

‘The General Assembly commends the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi and the Minister of State for Environment Dr.Isiaq Kunle Salako for presenting the road map of their respective ministries to BON members and promise them more robust engagement in very near future’.

Penpushing also reports that the Assembly endorsed the expansion proposal on Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) and called on qualified broadcasters to embrace the society for the future benefits of the industry, and same vein commended Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) secretariat for the success recorded so far in bringing the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters on proper footing.

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