PRESS RELEASE
NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT URGED TO LICENCE COMMUNITY RADIO

A call has gone to the Nigerian Federal government to endorse and adopt the African Charter on Broadcasting. The Charter proposes a three–tier structure of broadcasting for African countries, comprising a state radio sector, a private commercial sector, and a community radio segment. The charter was passed in 2001 by stakeholders in African broadcasting and endorsed by the African Union at its Maputo Summit in July this year.

The call was made by the Steering Committee on the initiative for Building Community Broadcasting in Nigeria at its just concluded inaugural meeting in Lagos. The Steering Committee has representatives from national radio operators, academics, legal practitioners, international media experts and civic groups. It is constituted by three partners, the Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA), the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters-Africa Region (AMARC-Africa) and the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Nigeria, to facilitate the implementation strategy of their initiative.

The Committee also called on the Nigerian government to undertake a comprehensive review of the National Mass Communication Policy with a view to developing a pluralist radio sector in the country, as well as reform the existing legal framework for broadcasting in Nigeria to recognize and provide licensing to community radios.

Arguing that an equitable frequency allocation plan is critical to the development of a redoubtable radio regime, the Committee urged the government to draw up "publicly stated, open and transparent" national broadcast frequency map that accommodates community broadcasters.

As a way of giving prospective community broadcasters a helpful shove, the Committee wants the authorities to introduce and implement waivers in tariffs and duties on equipment and consumables in line with the protocols of the UNESCO Florence Treaty. It asked the government to take community radio out of the payment rolls of the current licencing regime because of its public service mission and not-for-profit status.

The Committee also wants the government to contribute substantially to an independent community radio fund, and ensure a speedy passage of the Freedom of Information Bill pending in the National Assembly since 1999.

Panos Radio Department - Johan Deflander - [email protected]