President Bola Tinubu-led administration through National Broadcasting Commission—NBC, has threatened Arise Television over comments made by the station’s guests.
The warning which was issued on Friday by the NBC was in response to remarks made by guests Dele Farotimi and Kenneth Okonkwo of the Labour Party on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Newsday’ on October 5 and 6 respectively.
President Bola Tinubu who has been battling with certificate forgery scandal described the guests’ remarks as “unguaurded incendiary remarks” against the three arms of the government and President Tinubu.
Though, the particular remarks made by the guests and found offensive by the NBC were not mentioned in the notice.
The warning notice signed by NBC’s Director General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, was addressed to the CEO of Arise News and copied to media houses.
It warned Arise News to adopt a “delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable contents as described in Section 5.5.6 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,” or face sanctions following a repeat in future broadcasts.
In the warning notice, the NBC said that it had “observed with concern, the preponderance of incendiary remarks allowed on Arise News,” and ordered the broadcaster to “manage array of guests that may feature on the station from time to time.”
It reads, “For the benefit of doubt, on October 5, 2023 during the programme ‘The Morning Show’ anchored by Reuben Abati, Rufai Useni and Ayo Maira Ese, featured Oladotun Hasan and Dele Farotimi as Guests.
“The programme contained unguaurded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the legislature, Executive, Judiciary and Mr President.
“On October 6, 2023 during the programme ‘Newsday’ featured Kenneth Okonkwo (Spokesperson for Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks on air.”
“Please note that henceforth your station shall be held liable for any infraction on your platform and applicable sanctions shall be imposed as prescribed by Law.
“Please refer to the following Sections of the Code to guide your operations henceforth. (Ref. Nigeria Broadcasting Code Section 1.10.3, 3.31(a,c and e), 3.3.1(e), 5.3.3(b), 5.5.6).”
