The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has temporarily suspended the shutdown of the indebted broadcast stations across the country.
The Director-General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Ilelah, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
The commission had on August 19 revoked the licences of the AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication L.td., Silverbird TV Network and 50 other stations over N2.6 billion debts.
The commission ordered the affected stations to shutdown in the next 24 hours and directed NBC offices nationwide to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.
PRESS RELEASE…
NBC TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS THE SHUTDOWN OF INDEBTED BROADCAST STATIONS. pic.twitter.com/czgsGsgvC3
— nbcgovng (@nbcgovng) August 26, 2022
Consequently, the commission, on August 20, extended the period which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday.
It explained that the extension of the enforcement date was due to an appeal by the affected broadcast stations, relevant stakeholders, public spirited individuals and organisations.
However, Ilelah said following the ultimatum, the commission received positive responses from the debtor licensees, including big players in the broadcast industry.
“Sequel to a follow-up meeting held with executives of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and other critical Stakeholders in the industry.
“The commission has decided to temporarily suspend the shutdown of the indebted broadcast stations all over the country.
“We express our profound appreciation to the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the affected licensees and broadcast Stakeholders for their responses and interventions.
“We specifically thank DAAR Communications Ltd., and Silverbird TV/Rhythm FM for their responses,” Ilelah said.
He said that the commission was not unaware of the difficulties the shutdown would have caused the operators and other stakeholders.
The D-G stated that the commission would always operate within the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
