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NBC revokes licences of Silverbird, AIT, Raypower, Rhythm FM, 50 others

by Euclid Myke

August 19, 2022

in Cover, News

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*Orders immediate shutdown

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM and 50 other stations.

The licences of the broadcast media organisations, it was learnt, was revoked over failure to meet up with the renewal requirements, amounting to N2.6 billion.

The Director-General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Ilelah, made the disclosure at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, ordering the affected stations to shutdown in the next 24 hours.

Ilelah directed NBC offices nationwide to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.

He explained that in May 2022, the commission published in the national dailies, the list of licensees that were indebted to the NBC, granting them two weeks to renew their licences and pay their debts or consider their licenses revoked, and frequencies withdrawn.

“Three months after the publication, some licensees are yet to pay their outstanding debts, in contravention of the NBC Act CAP N11, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, particularly section 10 (a) of the third schedule of the Act.

”In view of this development, the continued operation of the debtor stations is illegal and constitutes a threat to national security.

”Therefore, after due consideration, the NBC hereby announces the revocation of the licences of the under-listed stations and give them 24 hours to shutdown their operations,” he said.

The D-G said that the other stations affected were Zuma FM, Suleja, Niger State, Bomay Broadcasting Service L.td., Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Gombe, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers States Broadcasting Corporations and Stations.

He listed other stations to includes; Katsina Broadcasting Corporation, Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation, Jigawa Broadcasting Corporation, Kebbi State Broadcasting Corporation, Zamfara State Broadcasting Corporation and Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation.

Similarly, Ilelah said Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation, Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation, Borno State Broadcasting Corporation and Crowther FM Abuja were among the affected stations.

He urged all broadcast stations who have not renewed their licences for the current duration to do so within the next 30 days to avoid sanctions.

He also called on all Internet Protocol Television and all other broadcast stations that are streaming online to register with the commission to avoid disconnection

”Broadcasters should note that, having a DTT or FM licence doesn’t warrant a broadcaster to stream online; they are two different licenses,” he stressed. (NAN)

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Politics

2027: NDC fixes October 20 for Campaign Council inauguration, Presentation of Certificates of Return

by Myke Uzendu

October 10, 2026

By Myke Uzendu, Abuja The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed October 20, 2026, for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates for the 2027 general elections and a strategic dinner for candidates contesting various elective positions. The party also disclosed that its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively, would participate in consultations to determine key appointments in the campaign council. National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, announced this on Saturday at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. He said the campaign council’s organisational structure and timetable had been ready since the end of August, but its inauguration was being delayed to allow Obi and Kwankwaso to conclude consultations and recommend nominees for strategic positions. According to him, the activities scheduled for October 20 would follow a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), where key decisions concerning preparations for the 2027 elections are expected to be considered and ratified. Cleopas said the delay did not indicate inactivity or internal division, explaining that the party was committed to establishing a properly constituted campaign structure capable of coordinating its nationwide electoral activities. He added that appointments would reflect national spread, competence, capacity and the ability of nominees to contribute meaningfully to the campaign. The NDC chairman disclosed that Obi and Kwankwaso were expected to recommend nominees for several strategic positions in the Presidential Campaign Council, including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller. The candidates are also expected to nominate two additional officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, will oversee the campaign council’s separate and dedicated bank account. Cleopas said the arrangement was intended to ensure that the presidential and vice-presidential candidates were actively involved in decisions affecting the organisation, financing and direction of their campaign. He maintained that the party leadership, the candidates and the National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, were united in their preparations for the 2027 elections. The chairman said the campaign council would be formally announced after the national leadership received the candidates’ nominations and recommendations. He argued that constituting the council without the active participation of the presidential candidate and his running mate would be inappropriate, given their central roles in the presidential contest. Cleopas also dismissed reports suggesting that the party was divided or struggling to organise itself ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the press conference was partly convened to address concerns raised by party members, supporters and Nigerians over the apparent delay in establishing the presidential campaign structure. The chairman maintained that the National Working Committee (NWC), NEC, National Leader and party structures at the state, local government and ward levels remained committed to the party’s candidates. He equally rejected suggestions that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the NDC presidential ticket. Questioning the basis of the allegation, Cleopas said it would have been easier for Dickson to join the APC than to undertake the more demanding process of establishing and registering a political party if his objective had been to work for the ruling party. He urged journalists to exercise caution in reporting political allegations and speculation, warning that misinformation could create unnecessary distrust and mislead the electorate. ...