The broadcast industry regulator says that broadcast stations were handed fines totalling N11 million for contravention of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
88 broadcast stations were by the National Broadcasting Commission in the industry watchdog’s efforts to maintain sanity across the Nigerian airwaves.
According to Mrs Maimuna Jimada, Head Public Affairs at NBC, the radio and TV stations were penalised and fined a total of N11 million for offences ranging from breaches of rules on vulgar lyrics, hate speeches and unverifiable claims.
She says the sanctions were categorized according to the provisions of the NBC Code as the list shows that there were no breaches in Sokoto while 19 stations including AIT, NTA, cool FM among others were charged N2. 5m in Abuja.
20 stations in Enugu were charged N2. 225m while three stations were charged N400, 000 in Benin zone and 12 states were charged N1. 35m in Kaduna.
In Lagos zone, three stations were charged N1. 05m; one station was charged N100, 000 in Jos; 12 stations charged N1. 3m in Ibadan; three stations charged N300. 000 at Maiduguri and 12 stations were charged N1. 6m in Uyo.
Jimada explains that it is the responsibility of reporters to promote socio-economic well being of the country by strictly conforming to the provisions of the broadcasting code.
NBC disclosed that the list of erring stations to be fined is being compiled but the broadcasting industry regulatory agency distributed the list of sanctioned stations across all the six zones.