The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has asked the House of Representatives to include internet broadcasting under the control of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The request was contained in his submission at the public hearing into a bill to amend the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Act organised by the House Committees on Information, Ethics and Values.
Mr Mohammed said all online and internet broadcasting entities should be included in section two (c) of the bill.
Section two proposes to give NBC the powers to “receive, process and consider applications for the establishment, ownership of radio and television stations including…….”
“I want to add that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in the bill,” Mr Mohammed said.
The bill, if passed with the recommendation of Mr Mohammed, online media entities will have to get approval from the NBC before operating.
Opposition
The Executive Director of the Institute of Media and Societies, Akin Akingbulu, opposed the inclusion of online digital platforms, saying it would further stifle the civic space.
“The inclusion of the following among categories of broadcasting services licences will be injurious to the civics space, freedom of expression and media freedom in Nigeria,” he said.
Source: premiumtimes
