The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Saturday extended the shutdown order of 53 television and radio stations by four days.
This is coming barely 24 hours after NBC shut down the African Independent Television (AIT), Silverbird TV network, Rhythm FM, and 49 other broadcast stations across the county over N2.9 billion debt.
The commission decision elicited outrage from media professional organizations such as the NUJ, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), International Press Institute (IPI), among others.
In a statement on Saturday, the commission said following intervention of Concerned Groups and visible concerted efforts by some defaulting Licensees to offset their debts, it had extended the deadline to 6PM on Tuesday August 23, 2022.
The statement said, “This is to inform all the affected broadcast stations whose licenses were revoked and given 24 hours to pay all outstanding license fees that the National Broadcasting Commission has extended the period which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday August 23, 2022.”
“All affected broadcast Stations who fall to defray their debts on or before August 23, 2022 are directed to shut down by 12 am on August 24, 2022. This extension is due to the appeal by the affected Broadcast Stations, relevant stakeholders, public spirited Individuals and Organizations.”
