Nigeria’s Information and culture Minister Lai Mohammed has urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech and fake news.
He was speaking at the 3rd Annual Lecture Series of the NBC in Abuja, which coincides with the agency’s 25th anniversary.
The theme of the lecture was Cosmopolitanism: Nigeria Ethnic Politics and the Communication of Hate.
Information and Culture Minister stated that the government was resolute in tackling hate speech.
“As a matter of fact, the challenges facing the NBC have never become more daunting, considering the increasing propensity of some radio and television stations across the country to turn over their platforms to the purveyors of hate speech. It is the responsibility of the NBC to put these broadcast stations in check before they set the country on fire.
“As the NBC celebrates what is a milestone – a quarter of a century – in its existence, I urge the Commission to redouble its efforts in discharging its mandate. The NBC must ensure a strict adherence to the Broadcasting Code, and errant stations must be sanctioned accordingly to serve as a deterrent.
The nation looks up to the NBC to restore sanity to the broadcast industry. The Commission cannot afford to do any less at this critical time. It cannot afford to fail the nation,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who cited the ignominious role played by a radio station in fueling the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, which led to the loss of over 800,000 lives in 100 days, charged the NBC not to allow the purveyors of hate speech to lead Nigeria to the path of destruction.
“If you tune into many radio stations, for example, you will be shocked by the things being said, the careless incitement to violence and the level of insensitivity to the multi-religious, multi-ethnic nature of our country…” he warned.
Achievements
He said the purveyors of hate speech were also deliberately giving the impression that the Buhari Administration has not achieved anything since assuming office in May 2015, adding, however, that no amount of hatred by the naysayers would obliterate the solid achievements of the Buhari Administration, under a most difficult situation.
“Despite operating with just 45% of the funds available to the immediate past Administration, due largely to the fall in oil prices in our mono-product economy and the failure to save for the rainy day, this government has achieved so much more in so short a time.
Reeling out the achievements of the Buhari Administration, he said the Administration had brought transparency to governance, with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) enabling the government to monitor its revenue and spending and the modified tax system improving tax collection.
The agriculture sector, he said, was producing food in excess of what obtained one year ago, and that the government spent 1.3 trillion Naira on Capital projects in the 2016 budget, the highest in the country’s history.
This government has resuscitated 11 of the country’s moribund fertilizer blending plants, fertilizer is now available to farmers nationwide the product delivered at 30% below the market price, 50,000 jobs created and the 50 billion Naira saved with the stopping of fertilizer subsidy.
“The government is not done. Despite the paucity of funds, the Federal
Government’s Social Investment Programmes are being implemented., the Minister said.
Mohammed said despite the cowardly bombing of soft targets, the boko haram insurgency wass not in resurgence; and that the fight against corruption was unrelenting.
On the economy, he said the National Bureau of Statistics have revealed a growth of 95 per cent in capital importation/Foreign Direct Investment in the second Quarter of 2017, over the First Quarter.
Sultan’s view
The Minister’s view on hate speech was echoed by the Sultan of Sokoto,Mohammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, who was the guest speaker at the 3rd Annual Lecture Series of the NBC in Abuja.
According to the Sultan, the potential of misusing the power of broadcast is so serious and as such, there was the need to adhere to social responsibility.
“No society can develop under the umbrella of hate and as such we support the criminalization of hate speech. Leadership is also needed to tackle the unfortunate trend.”
On his part, the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Modibbo Kawu said, the reviewed NBC code is poised to protect local content in the industry and also create a digital economy.
From the senate,Chairman Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Suleiman Adokwe threw the weight of the law makers behind the NBC and concour with the idea of sanctioning hate speech broadcast outfits.
Different Speakers who gave note addresses at the event believed in the capacity of the NBC.
Former Directors General of the Commission, Mr Tom Adaba,Yemi Bolarinwa spoke about the NBC when it started.
Members of the panel included; Professor Ethan Mijah of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Idayat Hassan of the Center for Democracy and Development and Professor Mohammed Bashir from the Kaduna state University.
They all submitted that hate speech in Nigeria must be tamed using all available strategies.
Also some notable contributors from the audience, the likes of Professor Umaru Pate, Major Al-Mustapha retired, Professor Rauf Akinfeleye all contributed to how the hate speech menace could be tamed from the roots and other perspectives.
