The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has issued a new directive to compel the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately implement 70% local content in broadcasting.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja today by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi.
According to the statement, the directive became necessary following the submission of the report of a committee set up to work out the processes for implementing the recommendations approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also in the statement is the new directive aimed at re-positioning Nigeria’s broadcast industry, creating jobs, promoting local content, and boosting the advert industry.
The statement further reads;
Major highlights of the Minister’s directive include new regulations to compel broadcasters to utilize the content and services of Nigerian independent producers, in fulfillment of the regulatory requirements for 70% local content, rather than the current abuse of the rules which allow many loopholes for the production of such content in jurisdictions outside Nigeria.
This, according to the Minister, will empower local producers with proper funding and investment, enhance foreign collaborations, develop the local industry, raise the standard of local productions and ultimately lead to job creation.
The Minister also expressed that;
This directive covers the provision for the regulation of the web and online TV/radio; regulation of international broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria; hate speech; human resource and staff welfare; funding for the reforms implementation; monitoring; Independence of the Regulator and ease of issuing Licenses as well as competition and monopoly issues.
The new regulation is set to revive the culture of payment of license fees and/or royalties required by music rights owners, by frowning at illegal and unpaid use of musical works by broadcast stations.
Furthermore, the directive will also;
prohibit exclusivity of sporting rights in Nigeria, as a new regulation now mandates broadcasters and exclusive licensees to share such rights with other broadcasters to boost reach and also maximize utilization by all broadcasters of premium content, in order to grow their platforms and investment in other content.
The Minister concluded that this regulation will prevent the unfair practices by a foreign or local broadcaster to suppress other local broadcasters in the television and radio markets.
This regulation is due to come into effect this month of January, 2020.
