Nationwide broadcast: What Tinibu told Nigerians - ITREALMS

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Broadcast by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinibu on the nationwide protest, on Sunday, August 4th, 2024.
Excerpts: 

My fellow Nigerians,

1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.

Broadcast guru, Jika Attoh is dead - ITREALMS

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Foremost broadcaster and guru in electronic media with golden voice, Mr. Jika Attoh is dead, reports ITREALMS.

His dead filtered into the airwave on late afternoon of Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Governance gimmicks surface @SABC - ITREALMS

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The SOS Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) are appalled and deeply concerned to learn that the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been designated as “the Board”.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,
announced, after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) (9 February) that, “In terms of the law, the GCEO of the SABC has been designated by the Minister of DCDT with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance as the Board of the SABC.”

Broadcast violates Electoral Act: INEC disqualify Buhari now, says Gbadamosi – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately disqualify President Mohammadu Buhari (PMB) for violating the Electoral Act, reports ITREALMS.

Gbadamosi who was reacting to the national broadcast, Thursday night by President Buhari, which was actually a campaign stunt was a violation of the Electoral Act that require stoppage of campaigns 48 hours before any election.

“Muhammadu Buhari should be disqualified for campaigning within 48 hours of the election, a violation of the Electoral Act,” he declared on his Facebook page.

Also commenting on the broadcast, the former aide to Mr. Peter Ayo Fayose, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Lere Olayinka lamented that President Buhari now has the wherewithal to give two national broadcasts within five days.

Olayinka, also wondered that this is the same president who could not say anything while herdsmen were killing Nigerians.

“Two broadcasts in Five days from a President who kept mute when herdsmen were killing Nigerians?” he decried.

Olayinka went on to say that “Election is good ooo. So, Buhari can address Nigerians through local media?”

ITREALMS recalled that Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina had earlier hinted that President Buhari was billed for a national broadcast at 7pm with a repeat at 9pm across all television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets and enjoined them to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast on February 14, 2019.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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Lai to NBC: Sanction violators of broadcast code

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction broadcasting organizations that violate the nation's Broadcast Code, saying the serial violation of the code by many radio and television stations constitute a threat to national peace, security and unity, reports ITRealms.

The Minister gave the directive while addressing participants at the DSO Stakeholders' Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday.

''As I have said on a number of occasions, this Administration will neither stifle press freedom nor tamper with freedom of expression. But it will also not condone a situation in which broadcast stations will set the nation on fire by ignoring the minimum standard as contained in the Broadcast Code.

''If we set the country on fire by our actions, none of us will escape the consequences. For those who may think this is far-fetched, let me remind them that a radio station, Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), played a (catalytic) role during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide that left some 800,000 people dead,'' he said.

According to Minister’s media aide, Segun Adeyemi, in a press statement made available to ITRealms, quoted Alhaji Mohammed as saying that the Broadcast Code was clear when it said in Section 0.2.1: ''Broadcasting shall influence society positively, setting the agenda for the social, cultural, economic, political and technological development of a nation, for the public good.''

He also quoted three other relevant Sections of the Code: Section 3.1.2 (Materials likely to incite or encourage to the commission of a crime or lead to public disorder shall not be broadcast); Section 3.9.1 (Language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime, or lead to disorder, shall not be broadcast) and Section 0.2.3g (Broadcasting shall be mindful of the degree of harm and offence likely to be caused by the inclusion of any material in programming, in general or in specific terms).

''Unfortunately, many of our broadcasters today are wilfully flouting these critical Sections of the Code by broadcasting inciting materials and language that can encourage or incite crime or lead to disorder. The situation has become worse in recent times, in the wake of the Farmers/Herders' clashes.

''The killings in Benue in the new year are unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable. But the coverage of the aftermath of the killings by many broadcast stations has shown a flagrant disregard for the Broadcast Code, lack of professionalism and outright irresponsibility. Many broadcast stations are guilty of this,'' the Minister said.

He added: ''For those who may want to misrepresent us, this is not a call for censorship, but a call for responsibility and total adherence to the Broadcast Code. Playing, over and over again, the footage of dead bodies in the aftermath of any crisis is capable of inciting public disorder. Rolling, time and time again, the footage of mass burial of victims of any crisis is equally inciting. Offering your platform to public commentators who use incendiary language or engage in ethnic-baiting is detrimental to national peace and unity.''

Alhaji Mohammed commended the stakeholders for the success recorded in the Digital Switch Over (DSO) last year., saying it was a ''pleasant irony'' that a year that was marked with bickering ended with DSO rollout in Kwara and Kaduna States within 48 hours.

He said the momentum must be maintained by making the year 2018 the most successful yet in the country's digitization process.

''This retreat is therefore highly commendable, as it provides the stakeholders the opportunity to take a holistic look at the whole process and come out with the way forward. I have no doubt that the retreat, coming so early in the year, will have a positive impact on the DSO process, and speed up our rollout in the new year,'' the Minister said.

Bassey Etim Bassey/GEE 

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Pix: L-R Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission Is'haq Modibbo Kawu; Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Chairman, House of Representatives' Committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, at the DSO Stakeholders' Retreat in Uyo on Friday.

What Buhari told Nigerians on return from UK

For the Records@ITRealms:

Broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, August 21, 2017 after return from medical tourism at the Abuja House in United Kingdom. Excerpts.

"My dear citizens,

I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers. I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.

2.     In the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs, but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far.

 3.     In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.

4.     Nigeria's unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.

5.     Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.

  6.    I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.

  7.     This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.

8.     The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.

9.     The national consensus is that, it is better to live together than to live apart.

10.   Furthermore, I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.

11.     Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.

 12.     Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against;

·       elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets

·       kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes,

·       in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.

13.   Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of;

·       economic security,

·       political evolution and integration

·       as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.

14.     I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained. I am so glad to be home.

15.    Thank you and may God bless our dear Nation."

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FG explains commitment to broadcast digitization deadline

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained the commitment of the Federal Government (FG) towards meeting the June 2017 deadline for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country, reports ITRealms.

The Minister made this known in Abuja on Tuesday while declaring open the 2016 AFRICAST with the theme "Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting: Financing Quality Content"

"The digitization of broadcasting offers Nigeria a lot of opportunities. The benefits are multifaceted and very far-reaching – in the areas of economics, politics, education, entertainment, science and technology and several other ways. Many have said that the impact of digitization on television will be revolutionary and I cannot agree less. With digitization, the TV industry in Nigeria will be able to raise over 1 billion dollars in one year. Also, digitisation will increase the number of the current 450 TV stations in Nigeria," he said.

Alhaji Mohammed explained that the Federal Government's idea of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is one in which there is free digital TV service called FreeTV - based on Freeview rather than requiring pay TV subscriptions and that the government is providing support to ensure that the FreeTV Set-Top-Boxes, also called decoders, are affordable at a retail price of N1,500.

He said with the Digital Switch Over, Nollywood will have a safe and profitable distribution channel direct to 24 million TV homes through the Set-Top Boxes with no piracy risk, which will generate $250m per annum of extra income for Nollywood.

The Minister said the digitization of the technology of broadcasting, which brought about a paradigm shift in the industry, requires broadcasters to be dynamic, embrace various platforms for diverse content and adapt to new tools with continuous access to content throughout their business.

"The evolution of new broadcast platforms is threatening traditional broadcast platforms and channels. The reality though is that the motivation apparently is that as broadcasters engage new platforms, the market opportunities are increasing, providing new revenue streams," he said.

Mohammed also urged regulators of broadcasting in Africa to begin to envisage and appropriate the larger implications of the emergence of multiple platforms by ensuring that the media continues to serve its peoples in terms of security, economic well-being and technological advancement.

AFRICAST, which was introduced in 1996 by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the broadcast regulator in Nigeria, is the platform on which broadcast issues as they relate to Africa are discussed every two years by professionals, academics and policy makers.

It is also a platform for manufacturers of broadcast equipment and publishers of content who are targeting the emerging African market.


Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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Latest Canon broadcast, cinema range showcase @IBC 2016

ITRealms:

Leader in imaging solutions, Canon says latest from its shelf was on showcase at the IBC 2016, the leading global tradeshow for the media and broadcast industry that took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, ITRealms reports.

Canon demonstrated its full range of professional imaging products that demonstrated Canon’s Full HD, 4K - digital TV and digital cinematography and High-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging products, through a variety of end-to-end workflow scenarios – from shooting experiences, to review and editing processes, including innovative low-light and long distance live shooting demos.

Marketing Director, CME & CCNA Canon Central and North Africa, Hendrik Verbrugghe, said Canon has exhibited at IBC for more than three decades and continue to listen to our customers when developing the product range to ensure our innovations meet their needs.

“We understand that content providers and creators demand quality products that will deliver the creative vision in quality imaging. As Africa is growing in content development Canon is ready to provide the continent quality professional products in broadcast and film,” he Verbrugghe.

The new flagship, Cinema EOS models and are ready for the 4K generation, enabling high-end production houses and broadcasters to intuitively and easily shoot with a wide dynamic range, in supreme quality.

The EOS C700 cameras capture creative slow motion 4K video footage internally with high frame rates of up to 59.94P/50P and 2K up to 200p/240p (sensor crop mode), or 4K RAW up to. For a truly integrated, efficient and reliable HDR workflow all versions of the EOS C700 can connect directly to the incredible 4K display monitor - DP-V2420 – a high luminance monitor that is capable of supporting the new ITU-R BT.2100 standard for HDR output.

The XC15 follows in the footsteps of the popular XC10 and is a compact, 4K (UHD) and Full HD video camcorder with stills capability, aimed at content creators such as news gatherers and independent or documentary filmmakers. The XC15 includes a microphone adapter with dual XLR inputs for professional audio capture, quick autofocus and a 24p frame rate option for cinematographers.

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FG set to block illegal broadcast, cautions on IRMS property

ITRealms:

In effort block illegal broadcast by rebellious groups across the country, the Federal Government said it has resolved to rehabilitate all International Radio Monitoring Stations (IRMS), warning land speculators to steer clear of IRMS property in the country, reports ITRealms.

The IRMS facility at Ipaja, Lagos covering the South-West geo-political zone is one of such stations strategically located in various parts of the country as security surveillance to monitor radio broadcast activities, so as to guide against illegal use of the radio frequency airspace for unauthorized broadcast by proscribed groups, political and ethnic motivated dissidents.

Special Assistant on Media to the Hon. Minister of Communications, Mr.  Victor  Oluwadamilare, said the Federal Ministry of Communications, has adequately appropriated for rehabilitation works on the IRMS facilities across the country in the 2016 Federal Government budget and has consequently warned against any illegal occupation and acquisition of any fraction of land on which these infrastructures are located.

“Because of the strategic importance of these infrastructures, the general public is warned against purchase or acquisition of any part of the monitoring stations”. The IRMS facilities are located in Azare, Gusau, Ipaja and Ogoja, to monitor broadcast activities across the country and its borders.

This warning, he said, is coming at the heel of what the Federal Government considered as unauthorized acquisition of part of the land on which the IRMS at Ipaja,  Lagos is situated, which is currently a subject of litigation in a suit No ID5764/14 between Oguntoyinbo Abiola, Falola and Illo families of Ipaja, Lagos  Vs the Hon. Minister of Lands and Hon. Minister of Communications

The Ministry unequivocally stated that the title of the land on which the Ipaja IRMS is situated is still under litigation and pending before a competent court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thereby forestalling anybody, group or family from encroaching upon the land acquired by the Federal Government since 1971.

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Compelling stories to herald Airtel Touching Lives Season 2

ITRealms:

Preceding the Touching Lives Season 2 Premiere in Abuja, Airtel Nigeria, said compelling stories would herald the broadcast of the 13 episode programme on satellite and terrestrial television stations, reports ITRealms.

The programme, which captures how the plight and despair of people are turned into optimism, would kick off on Sunday, 17th January, 2016 on Africa Magic Channel 151 by 7.30pm through 8.00pm.

ITRealms also gathered that a repeat broadcast would be aired on Africa Magic Family 154 on Saturdays 8pm to 8.30pm; Africa Magic Urban on Thursdays 7.30pm to 8.00pm; AIT on Sundays by 6.30pm to 7pm; NTA on Wednesdays by 8.30pm to 9.00pm and Arewa 24 TV on Sundays by 7.00pm to 7.30pm.

The Airtel Touching Lives, ITRealms recalls is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention of the company focused on empowering, uplifting and creating opportunities for under-privileged people, community and groups in the Nigerian society.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, urged Nigerians, including corporate organisations, government and NGOs, to join efforts in humanitarian causes to support the less privileged.

”If we all support just one programme in our immediate communities, it will make a huge difference in making our country a better place for all.

“At Airtel, we believe that to be a great company, we must be a good company; and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the various communities and people we serve,” he said.

The premiere of the Airtel Touching Lives Season 2, which held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja was attended by several important dignitaries including the majority leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications; Hon. Saheed Fijabi, Chairman, House Committee on Communications; Honourable Minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister, Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong; wife of Hon. Minister for Solid Minerals, Erelu Olabisi Fayemi;  Indian High Commissioner, A. Ghanashyam and British Deputy High Commissioner, Simon Shercliff, among several others.

Ace comedian, Akpororo; the Vintage Band and the Xplicit dance troupe added colour to the event as they thrilled guests with breath-taking performances.

The Season 2 is a 13-epidose programme, which features 24 emotion-evoking stories it is anchored by popular On-Air-Personality, Wana Udobang.

Nenye Dom/GEE 
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DSTv introduces digital video with Walka

DSTv Mobile, a subsidiary of MultiChoice has introduced a new Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) called Walka, into the nation’s mobile market.

Speaking at the event in Lagos, the General Manager of Digital Mobile Television (Nigeria) (DMTV) Limited, Mr. Mayo Okunola, said that with the new Walka device, subscribers within DStv Mobile network coverage areas in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Onitsha, Aba and Asaba would have access to the channels on the DStv Mobile DVB-H network.

He also said that DStv Mobile was proud to once again be at the fore-front on the cutting edge of mobile technology and in responding to Nigerians’ increasingly mobile culture.

“A new technology such as the Walka requires significant amounts of investment, however, it is an investment that we are committed to make to ensure that Nigerians and DStv subscribers have access to the latest media and technology available in the market,” he said.

Okunola further said that DStv Mobile’s launch is one of the most innovative products in the Nigerian market of today, describing the Walka as a DVB-H handheld TV device which enables DSTv subscribers to watch television on the go and at anytime.

He recalled that the launch of the Walka follows a long line of technology innovations associated with the DStv brand - including the Drifta, DStv Mobile (access to DStv channels via mobile phone), High Definition personal video recorder (PVR) decoders and integrated customer service tools. 

Additionally, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, who was represented at the occasion by the Head, Corporate Communications at MultiChoice, Mr. Segun Fayose, said that the launch of Walka underlines the vision of the company to surround television viewers with compelling content anywhere they may find themselves.

“Whether at home, at work, at play or while sitting in traffic, we are determined to provide the avid TV viewer with varied options to catch up with breaking news, sports, current affairs and other programmes,” he said.

Remmy Nweke
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APC seeks open spectrum management for development

Acclaimed international non-governmental organization (NGO) reputed for using Internet for social change, the Association of Progressive Communication (APC) has unveiled an open spectrum management for development in five countries across the globe.

These countries include Brazil, India, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Evan Light of APC in a brief about the project made available to ITRealms Online, defined spectrum as the electromagnetic waves used for radio and television signals, satellite signals, cellular telephone signals, wireless internet signals and various other things, which is necessary for the world’s daily communications needs.

Also, Evan said that a number of important technological debates and developments are currently taking place to shape the future of spectrum-based communication and the potential for introducing open spectrum management.

This policy brief, Evan said provides a brief history of how spectrum use has developed over the past 80 years, examines how it is currently being managed and what the current issues surrounding spectrum are, and makes a case for open spectrum.

He equally provided steps for a way forward, as well as a list of concrete actions that could be taken by civil society organisations, policy makers and media practitioners.

The brief was written as a part of the APC’s work on Open spectrum for development, which includes five national country studies, namely in aforementioned countries.

Spectrum in Colombia, he said for instance, demands for a more participative model, asserting there are several government initiatives aimed at broadening telecommunications access for the whole population through spectrum.

Colombian civil society, he said, should make the most of recent opportunities to lobby for the design of a management model that is more efficient and emphasises on the social value of the spectrum, according to Lilian Chamorro and Ariel Barbosa, authors of a new study for APC.

In Argentina, the spectrum is renationalized through privatization, which makes the country one of the only three nations worldwide that has done so with spectrum. However its recent renationalisation, together with the participative drafting of a new radio broadcasting law and a national plan for internet access, make this an auspicious time.

Remmy Nweke

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