NBC Directs All Online Broadcast Service Providers to Apply For a License.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has asked all social media platforms and online broadcasting service providers operating in Nigeria to apply for a broadcast license.

In a newspaper advertorial on Thursday 10 June, the NBC director-general, Armstrong Idachaba, said that the commission’s establishment code empowers it to ask all involved companies to be licensed.

Section two (b) of the NBC act of 2004 states: “(1) The Commission shall have [the] responsibility of: Receiving, processing and considering applications for the establishment, ownership or operation of radio and television stations including (i) cable television services, direct satellite broadcast and any other medium of broadcasting.”

The advertorial reads;

 “The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) hereby directs every Online Broadcast Service provider and Social Media Platforms operating within the Nigerian State to apply and obtain broadcast licence for their service(s).

Note that any Online Broadcast Service Provider that fails to obtain a licence will be considered an illegal entity.”

Recall that on Wednesday June 10, Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced that all top social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other micro-blogging sites will have to register for a license before they can operate in Nigeria.