By Josephine Uzorh
Spaces for Change, a non governmental organisation, has condemned the suspension of the operating license of DAAR Communications PLC, owners of Raypower FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT), by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
In a press statement made available to our correspondent, Spaces for Change said the NBC’s action was an abuse of the Commission’s regulatory powers, and also a clampdown on free media.
The statement issued by the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Modibbo Kawu, disclosed that the shutdown stemmed from the refusal of DAAR Communication’s management to stop airing contentious social media content on its programmes such as Political Platform and Kaakaki.
Spaces for change said the basis the NBC relied on to revoke DAAR’s license was flimsy, emotional, intolerance, and unfortunate.
“We cannot but agree with these adjectives. NBC’s action sheds further light on the Commission’s contempt for the social media.
“Requiring DAAR Plc to discontinue sourcing unedited content from social media sources underscores either the institution’s unfamiliarity with the changing landscape of information generation and dissemination or its disdain for revolutionary communication powered by the social media.
“The persecution of DAAR Communications is not just an attack on the media alone, but an attack on the entire civil society and free civic space.
“Under Nigerian law, the shutdown constitutes an egregious violation of the fundamental rights of citizens to hold opinions, receive and impart information without interference as stipulated in Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999,” the civil society organisation said.
It said the Freedom of Information Act guarantees the media and citizens the right to access public information and the activities of public institutions in order to ensure accountability and transparency in governance.
It said the presence of an independent and free media is the bedrock of democracy, ensuring the plurality of voices and the co-existence of diverse media views.
“Accordingly, the Commission must take great care to avoid undermining the rule of law, and breaching constitutionally-protected rights.
“SPACES FOR CHANGE notes that the suspension of DAAR Communication’s operating license adds to the growing lists of restrictions on civic spaces in Nigeria.
“This case and many others documented on our website www.closingspaces.org clearly establish a consistent pattern of crackdown on activists, journalists, non- governmental organisations and institutions drawing attention to pressing issues of national importance and influencing change within and beyond borders,” it said.