To address the pressing issues in the broadcast industry, media owners gathered at the 79th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) themed “Navigating the Challenges of Broadcasting in Nigeria” on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 in Edo state.

Comrade Salihu Dembos, Chairman of BON and Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), represented by BON’s Vice Chairman, High Chief Tony Akiotu highlighted the severe impact of these challenges and called for urgent government intervention. He urged President Bola Tinubu to provide stimulus package for broadcast media platforms to prevent mass shutdown of TV and radio stations, which could lead to increased reliance on social media for information with potentially damaging consequences for the country.

Chief Akiotu lamented the economic impact of the removal of the fuel subsidy and the hike in electricity tariffs. He appealed to the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to suspend the 2.5% levy on gross earnings from radio and television stations indefinitely. Additionally, he urged the federal government to support the broadcast industry by providing CNG-powered generators to all BON member stations and subsidizing electricity tariffs for the stations by 50% on a monthly basis.

Esther Alaribe
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com