BREAKING: NBC Sanctions Arise TV, others Over #LekkiMassacre

NBC has sanctioned three news channel televisions over #LekkiMassacre, OnyxNews Nigeria reports.

This online news platform reports that the National Broadcasting Commission has sanctioned Arise TV, AIT, Channels over coverage of the shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, the commercial city of Nigeria.

This development was made public by NBC Acting Director-General, Armstrong Idachaba, during a press briefing on Monday, October 26.

Armstrong said, the affected channels are Africa Independent Television (AIT), Arise TV and Channels television.

NBC said the channels committed a gross violation of the broadcast code for using “unverifiable online video footages” gotten from social media.

Armstrong added that the affected television stations are to pay fine of 3million naira each.

Reason NBC Sanctioned Arise TV, AIT And Channels Televisions

He said: ‘‘The National Broadcasting Commission is concerned about the professional misdemeanour of some broadcasting stations in the past couple of days. Whereas it can be said that the Nigerian Media especially the Broadcast media discharged its role professionally and most patriotic in confronting the challenge of #Covid-19 Crisis, the same cannot be said of the coverage of the recent #Endsars campaign.

‘‘Monitoring reports available to the Commission indicate that indeed at the early stages of the conflict the broadcast industry largely gave a Fair and Balanced coverage to the issues. This trend became completely reversed when violence, wonton destruction and looting were added to the dimensions.

‘‘Perhaps in the eagerness to break News and be Pace Setters stations engaged in the very unprofessional attitude of speculative and unverifiable broadcast. This is in spite of the following provisions the Nigeria Broadcasting Code which provides as follows;

“5.6.1: In Contemporary times, the impact of modern technology has significantly enabled Citizen’s contribution to journalism, which are beneficial to broadcasting. In this genre of citizens reportage, deploys such facilities as “User Generated Content” UGC, providing instantaneous eye-witness Account of events.

“Such Technological benefits place further demand on the broadcaster to be more cautious of its editorial responsibility; 5.6.2: News Materials sent in by Public must be vetted by a broadcaster who has editorial responsibility;

“5.6.3 The Broadcaster shall be mindful of materials that may embarrass individuals or organisations or cause disaffection, incite to panic or rift in the Society, in the usage of UGC.

‘‘We believe that the whole country has now seen why the spurious and recklessness on the Social Media must not be patronised by the mainstream traditional media.

“Broadcasters who therefore dogmatically patronise the Social Media must bury their heads in shame.’’

He, however, strongly criticised the assault and intimidation of media houses during the protest, and described the burning of TVC Lagos, brief closure of Channels TV Lagos as worrisome and indicators of mob treat to the freedom of the press, adding that no nation can grow when the citizens “muzzle and intimidate its Press”.

‘‘We are at the stage of our nation’s history when our broadcasters have a crucial responsibility for responsive and professional broadcasting. By picking unverified, unsubstantiated Social media sources and repeating the narratives, our broadcasters have shown crass lack of professionalism and a disposition to be escalators of conflict and more seriously a threat to Nigeria.

‘‘In line with the provisions of section 5.6.9 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code which states that; “the broadcaster shall be held liable for any breach of the Code emanation from the use of material from User Generated Sources”.

The Commission has therefore sanctioned Arise TV, Channels TV and AIT in line with the provisions of the Broadcasting Code.

Saying, this is to serve as deterrent to broadcasters who deliberately ignore to verify stories before they broadcast.’’

He urged broadcasters to always ensure verification and authenticity of Users Generated Contents and Social media Sources, before using them.