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nairaland.net • View topic - Nigeria punishes TV station for false report

Nigeria punishes TV station for false report

For the most part, Nigerian presidents are figureheads. They all come and go with nothing to show for their terms in office.
We would love to track accomplishments of our Presidents, so credit can be given where credit is due.

Nigeria punishes TV station for false report

Postby Richard Akindele » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:06 pm

ABUJA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A Nigerian federal agency revoked the broadcasting licence of Channels Television on Wednesday, a day after the station broadcast what officials called a false report President Umaru Yar'Adua might resign for health reasons.

The National Broadcasting Commission said it suspended all operations of Channels Television because the station had used its licence "in a manner detrimental to national interest".

Channels Television on Tuesday aired the report, quoting the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the president might step down after announcing a cabinet reshuffle. NAN has denied publishing such a story.

The president's spokesman immediately denied the report and said Yar'Adua had no intention of resigning.

State security officers on Tuesday arrested three senior TV journalists in connection with the report, which Nigerian media said was sent widely to news outlets in an email from an unknown Yahoo account.

Yar'Adua's health has been a source of constant speculation in the Nigerian media and opposition politicians, among others, have voiced concern about whether he is fit enough to govern.

The 57-year-old, known to have a chronic kidney problem, travelled last month to Saudi Arabia officially for a Muslim pilgrimage. But senior Nigerian officials and a medical source in Saudi Arabia said he had received treatment during the trip. (Reporting by Felix Onuah; writing by Randy Fabi; editing by Tume Ahemba and Andrew Roche)
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Postby Richard Akindele » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:23 pm

Lord have mercy!

While the TV station is culpable for what it airs, yanking a TV station's license for merely broadcasting false rumor, is unjustifiable.

Yar'Adua is a dictator, who obviously cracks down hard on freedom of the press.

In a world where freedom of speech exists, something like this would have led to just a few people losing their jobs, nothing more.

This is reminiscent of Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who shut down broadcast outlets that didn't share his political views.

Nigerian president's response is harsh, for an innocuous statement like this. I would have been inclined to agree with the action, if something the TV station said had incited a violent riot in the country. But nothing like that happened.

Sad indeed.
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Nigeria restores licence to local TV station

Postby Richard Akindele » Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:33 pm

ABUJA, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A Nigerian federal agency on Friday restored the broadcasting licence of Channels Television, two days after it was revoked for falsely reporting that the president may resign due to his health. The National Broadcasting Commission said the station apologised and accepted responsibility for the false report.

Channels Television on Tuesday aired the report, quoting the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the president may step down after announcing a cabinet reshuffle.

NAN immediately denied publishing such a story, and the president's spokesman said Umaru Yar'Adua had no intention of resigning.

State security officers on Tuesday arrested three senior TV journalists in connection with the report, which local media said was sent widely to news outlets in an e-mail from an unknown Yahoo account.

"The National Broadcasting Commission is also working with security agencies to ensure that all journalists detained in connection with the false report about the president are released," said Yomi Bolarinwa, the agency's director general.

Yar'Adua's health has been a source of constant speculation in the Nigerian media and opposition politicians, among others, have voiced concern about whether he is fit enough to govern.

The 57-year-old, known to have a chronic kidney problem, travelled last month to Saudi Arabia officially for a Muslim pilgrimage. But senior Nigerian officials and a medical source in Saudi Arabia said he had received treatment during the trip. (Reporting by Randy Fabi)
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Postby Richard Akindele » Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:54 pm

That is more like it.

I knew somebody was listening.

We don't want to go down the dictatorship path in Nigeria. Every action you take has geopolitical ramifications. For example, paypal won't do business with clients from Nigeria. This is simply because of 419 scam, for which Nigeria is well-known.

It's a similar tale in China, where manufacturers don't want to deal directly with Nigerian clients due to 419. 419 has damaged Nigeria's reputation beyond measure. Now, add government abuse of power to that, such as closing down TV stations, and you have an environment where foreign investors don't want to touch.
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