PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES ONLINE TV, RADIO REGULATION
“I just want to use this opportunity to inform you that Mr President has actually already approved a review of the Broadcast Code that is going to take care of many of the issues you have already raised here,” ,Mohammed said.
The Minister in a statement by his media aide, Segun Adeyemi, quoted him as saying; the disclosure was in response to a request made by Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) for the review of the Broadcasting Code.
Penpushing further reports that, Mohammed said the President had approved that WebTVs and radio stations, including foreign broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria, will be licensed because “sanity” must be brought into this industry.
The Minister who promised to carry along members of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) in the review of the Broadcasting Code, added, “Mr President has also approved a wide range of reforms in the industry which, at the appropriate platform, I will let you know’,.
Penpushing also reports that, he, however, also stressed that the Government is committed to free media, stressing, “I have said it on many platforms that this administration is not about to gag the press. No! But we will appeal to the press to please self-regulate for the sake of this country and also for the sake of the industry itself,”
The Minister appealed to Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to partner with the Government in the promotion of peaceful co-existence and cohesion in order to engender progress and national development.
“Today, if anybody listens to what is being said on some radio or television stations, you will think that this country is at war or that Christians actually cannot live with Muslims or that there is a dichotomy between the North and the South.”
The Minister appealed to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) members to use their platforms to promote the unity and cohesion of the country.
Penpushing reports that the Acting Chairman of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Godfrey Ohuabunwa, in his remarks said the re-appointment of the Minister was deserving because he brought life and great innovation to the broadcast industry during the first tenure of the administration.
The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria(BON) boss said the establishment is ready to key into the Government’s agenda, especially the fight against fake news.
