Broadcasting

MRA Idnucts NBC into FOI Hall of Shame

Published

6 years ago

September 25, 2018

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today named the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) this week’s inductee into the “Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame”, saying that its overall performance in the implementation of the FOI Act over the last seven years falls far short of what is required of a public institution covered by the Act.

Announcing the induction of the NBC in a statement in Lagos, Mr. Idowu Adewale, MRA’s programme officer, said although the Commission had shown a degree of responsiveness to requests for information from members of the public, as a key actor in the information and communication sector in Nigeria whose responsibilities include providing a framework to ensure the delivery of accurate and reliable information to Nigerians by the broadcast media, it ought to be among public institutions clamouring for the effective implementation of the Act as a way of advancing the flow of information to citizens.

Adewale accused the NBC of failing to fulfill several of its duties under the FOI Act, particularly its proactive disclosure obligations, as it has neglected to publish the categories of information listed for proactive disclosure under Section 2(3) of the FOI Act on its website or anywhere else, adding that it is thereby denying citizens of vital information relating to its activities, businesses and operations as well as key information specifically relevant to the broadcast sector in Nigeria.

He said: “According to an analysis conducted by Media Rights Agenda on the Attorney-General of the Federation’s reports to the National Assembly on the implementation of the FOI Act between 2011 and 2017, the NBC only submitted one report in 2014 on its implementation of the Act, out of seven annual reports which it ought to have submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation under Section 29 of the Act as of February 1, 2018.”

Referring to the “Database of FOI Desk Officers in Public Institutions in Nigeria,” recently released by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Adewale noted that the document further attests to the fact that the NBC is in continuing breach of other aspects of the FOI Act as it shows that the institution has also disregarded the provisions of Section 2(3)(f) of the Act, which requires every public institution to designate an appropriate officer and publish the title and address of such an officer to whom applications for information by members of the public should be sent.

According to him, the NBC has persisted in this breach despite elaborate guidance on this issue provided by the Attorney-General of the Federation to all public institutions in his Implementation Guidelines on the FOI Act, issued in 2013 as well as reminders that his office has sent to the Commission along with other public institutions to designate such an official and send the person’s details to the office of the Attorney-General.

Adewale similarly accused the NBC of also being in breach of Section 13 of the FOI Act, which mandates every public institution to ensure the provision of appropriate training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information and for the effective implementation of the Act.

He contended that “the breaches of various provisions of the FOI Act by the NBC and the obvious disregard by the institution of its duties and obligations under the Law constitute a setback both to efforts at implementing the FOI Act and the broadcasting industry in Nigeria.”

Adewale noted that the NBC has demonstrated a degree of responsiveness to requests for information as it is known to have responded to some request for information from members of the public. But he argued that the Commission still has a long way to go in ensuring that the objective of the FOI Act is fulfilled, adding that its overall performance in the implementation of the Act and compliance with its provisions was clearly below the level expected of any public institutions.

He urged the NBC to take steps to improve on its current level of compliance with the provisions of the Act, especially in the areas of its proactive disclosure and reporting obligations as well as the training of its officials.

According to him, the NBC should use its website to proactively publish much of the information that it holds, particularly those categories of information which the Act requires all public institutions to proactively disclose, adding that by so doing, the Commission would not only be bringing itself into compliance with the Law but would also lessen the burden of repeatedly processing individual requests for information touching on such issues.

Adewale called upon the Director General of the NBC to take urgent steps to ensure the provision of appropriate training for the staff and officials of the Commission so as to acquaint them with their duties and obligations under the FOI Act as well as to make them aware that Nigerians now have a right of access to information which public institutions are obliged to respect and give effect to.

He called on the National Assembly to exercise its powers as the ultimate oversight body in the implementation of the Law and accordingly institute measures to ensure that the NBC and other public institutions which are failing to comply with their obligations under the FOI Act are compelled to fully implement the Law, adding that the failure of the National Assembly to review the level of implementation of the Act since its passage or to take steps to ensure more effective implementation was extremely disturbing.

MRA launched the “FOI Hall of Shame” in July 2017 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the FOI Act through their actions, inactions, utterances and decisions.

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Broadcasting

FemyWalsh Set to Launch FM Radio in Lagos

Published

19 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Comms Week

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FemyWalsh Limited, media conglomerate, is set to launch its flagship FM terrestrial radio station as it receives its licence from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

This adds yet another media asset to the FemyWalsh group, which already comprises SOUQ News TV, Walsh Radio Online, Terminal Seven Audio-Visual Studio and Walsh Photography.

Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, company CEO, and Dr Idahosa Osamhanze, vice president, were presented with the operational licence by Mr Charles Ebuebu director general NBC at the commission[s office in Abuja.

This move marks a significant expansion in FemyWalsh’s media footprint and paves the way for broader audience engagement and impact. With the addition of this new licence, FemyWalsh is poised to reach even more viewers and listeners across Nigeria.

The company’s commitment to delivering high-quality content and innovative programming remains unwavering.

According to Oluwafemi, acquiring the terrestrial FM radio licence underscores the group’s ambition of being the largest and most impactful media network across Nigeria, as well as the African region.

“Getting into the terrestrial radio space and securing the operational license represents a pivotal moment for the FemyWalsh group as we continue to evolve and innovate in the media landscape. Radio has long been a powerful medium for reaching diverse audiences, and we are thrilled to leverage this platform to amplify further our mission of empowering SMEs and driving economic growth in Nigeria.”

For his part, Osamhanze, who is the Vice President of the organisation, also made it known that this was a dream come true, and a representation of the company’s dedication to the long-term development of the Nigerian media space. “With this new initiative, FemyWalsh Limited is poised to make a significant contribution to the future of Nigerian media. We are thrilled for the opportunity to foster a thriving media landscape for years to come.”

FemyWalsh Limited is the owner of SOUQ News TV, a digital satellite channel licensed for broadcast in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

The radio licence acquisition comes at a time when SOUQ News TV is experiencing rapid development and expansion, building on its established reputation for excellence in journalism and commitment to serving its viewers.

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Broadcasting

Climate Action Africa Calls for Broader Stakeholder Collaboration to Address Nigeria’s Climate Crisis

Published

4 days ago

April 13, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

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Climate Action Africa (CAA), a leading advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development in Nigeria, has called for a more impactful and inclusive approach to tackling the country’s pressing climate challenges. This was the focus of the climate change media briefing held in Lagos, Nigeria, today.

With Nigeria facing significant vulnerability to rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and environmental degradation, CAA emphasizes the need for a united front across all stakeholder groups. Developing countries like Nigeria, and many others across Africa, face unique sets of challenges when it comes to climate change.

“Nigeria’s unique position and vast resources necessitate a comprehensive strategy that leverages the expertise and commitment of every sector,” says Grace Oluchi Mbah, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Climate Action Africa.

“From government and industry leaders to scientists, community organizations, and individual citizens, we all have a role to play in building a more resilient and sustainable future.”

The importance of fostering collaboration in areas like policy development and implementation, innovation and technology, community mobilization and education, and investment and financing were highlighted during the media briefing. These are the challenges that the Climate Action Africa Forum 2024 (CAAF24) is set to address.

The upcoming Climate Action Africa Forum (CAAF24), scheduled for June 19-20 in Lagos, serves as a testament to CAA’s commitment to fostering collaboration. The forum will bring together key stakeholders from across Africa to discuss innovative solutions and develop concrete action plans for tackling climate change.

The forum will introduce the Deal Room, a dynamic marketplace connecting Africa’s brightest innovators with forward-thinking investors to accelerate impactful deals for climate action and sustainable development. Following the conference, CAA will partner with Silicon Valley based Founder Institute, the world’s largest startup accelerator to provide ongoing support to African innovators in a post accelerator programme.

“CAAF24 provides a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, collaborative problem-solving, and forging strategic partnerships,” says Mbah. “By working together, we can ensure that Nigeria, and Africa as a whole, emerges as a leader in building a sustainable and climate-resilient future.”

Climate Action Africa urges all stakeholders to take a proactive stance in addressing the climate crisis. Through collaborative efforts, innovation, and a shared commitment to a sustainable future, Nigeria can mitigate the impact of climate change and pave the way for a more prosperous and resilient tomorrow.

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Broadcasting

Breaking…..CANAL+, MultiChoice Finalize and Agree to Buyout Offer

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2024

Comms Week

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CANAL+ has made a mandatory offer to acquire all the issued shares of the MultiChoice Group it doesn’t already own for $1.9 billion.

CANAL+ was required to make the offer after acquiring 35 percent ownership of the company, now offering $6.70 per share, exceeding the regulatory minimum price of $5.63.

The two companies have entered an agreement for the mandatory offer, and MultiChoice shareholders will gain significant value for their shares, constituting a 66.66 percent premium to the closing price of $$4.02 on February 1, the last trading day prior to the delivery of CANAL+’s non-binding indicative offer.

The offer is conditional on customary regulatory conditions and will comply with all other relevant regulatory requirements.

CANAL+’s ambition is to build a global entertainment leader with Africa at its heart that will support the commercial development of Africa’s sporting and cultural industries and bring authentic African stories to global audiences.

“Following constructive engagement with MultiChoice, we are pleased to have issued a joint firm intention announcement to make an offer today, representing a significant premium for the shareholders of MultiChoice,” said Maxime Saada, chairman and CEO of CANAL+ Group.

“CANAL+ is confident in making this offer—at a level which far exceeds the minimum required by regulation—due to the incredible future we believe that CANAL+ and MultiChoice can build together.

“Through combining our companies, we will be well positioned to invest even more in local productions and sports content, supporting the world-leading and vibrant creative ecosystem on the African continent and all over the world, and producing even more high-quality and compelling local stories. The complementary geographies, considerable scale and strengthened capabilities achieved by the combination of these two great companies will ensure that Africa can tell her own stories on her own terms both locally and globally.

“We are excited about these opportunities, which will be supported by further investment in technology, including the continued offering of a leading satellite service and rolling out more innovative streaming products.”

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