NBC TO MEDIATE ON AIT/RIVERS ISSUE

Reacting to the shutting down of operations of Africa Independent Television and Raypower FM in Port Harcourt the capital of Rivers State by the state government, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in a press release, released on Wednesday 6^th September described the action regrettable, considering the impact of the broadcast media on the general development of society.

Recall that the Rivers State Government had on Sunday taken a decisive action on the station, claiming that the land on which AIT/Raypower built its transmission station has been a subject of dispute between the state government and DAAR Communications Plc.

It was further alleged that the state government also deployed bulldozers to demolish the Transmitter Complex at the DAAR Communications Plc centre in Port Harcourt.

The NBC in its release commiserate with the management and staff of DAAR Communications and assure that the commission would deploy all resources at its disposal to pursue resolution to the matter.

The statement reads:

The National Broadcasting Commission has received with dismay, the demolition of the structure of Africa Independent Television, one of the flagships of the DAAR Communications Group, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Commission considers the action as regrettable, considering the impact of the broadcast media on the general development of society.

The NBC, hereby, conveys its commiseration with the management and staff of DAAR Communications for this  unfortunate situation, and assures that it would deploy all resources at her disposal to pursue speedy and peaceful resolution to the matter.

The Commission enjoins all parties involved in the impasse, to be law abiding, as it explores ways of resolving the issues at stake.

This is in consonance with the Comission’s mandate as enshrined in Ssction 2(1)(q) of the NBC Act, which states that the Commission shall “intervene and arbitrate in conflicts in the broadcasting industry.”