The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a final warning to the operators of Arise Television for alleged violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Balarabe Ilelah, the director-general of NBC, conveyed this warning in a letter addressed to the chief executive officer of Arise Global Limited and shared with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.
In the letter titled “Preponderance of Derogatory and Incendiary Remarks: Final Warning,” Ilelah expressed the NBC’s concern about the frequent occurrence of incendiary remarks on Arise News. He emphasized the broadcaster’s responsibility to manage the guests featured on their programs and cited specific instances of derogatory remarks made by guests during the shows.
Ilelah pointed out relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, including 1.10.3, which emphasizes that presenters should not express personal opinions, and 3.3.1(a), which requires accuracy in the information presented.
He also highlighted section 3.3.3(c), stating that broadcasters should remain unbiased and avoid subjective mindsets. Additionally, section 3.3.1(e) emphasized fairness in treatment of individuals or organizations in programs, while section 5.3.3(b) urged avoidance of hate speech and divisive remarks in political materials used for news and current affairs programs.
Furthermore, Ilelah mentioned section 5.5.6, which mandates broadcasters to implement a delay mechanism to prevent undesirable content. He advised Arise TV to install such a mechanism, warning that the station would be held accountable for any future infractions, with applicable sanctions imposed as per the law.