Three broadcasters namely African Independent Television (AIT), Channels TV and Arise News TV have been sanctioned by the Nigerin broadcast regulator, The National Broadcasting Station (NBC) for their roles in the widespread violence that rocked some parts of the country in the past few days.
According to reports, the stations have been fined between N2million and N3million for using images which are alleged to have added to the escalation of the violence.
Section 3.11 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (6th edition) frowns at the use of images or videos or words intended to amplify a crime.
According to the sub-section A of the section,
“The broadcaster shall ensure that language or scene likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to disorder is not broadcast”.
The section goes on to add that the broadcaster shall ensure that “No programme contains anything which amounts to subversion of constituted authority or compromises the unity or corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state.”
The three stations were at the forefront of the coverage of the violence that broke out after an alleged shooting of peaceful protesters at Lekki area of Lagos state.
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