Northern Broadcasters Take Arewa 24, Others to Court Over Licensing Dispute

The Board of Trustees of the Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association (NBMOA) has filed a lawsuit against the broadcast company Arewa 24 Limited and seven other organizations, accusing them of operating without proper licenses.

The Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will hear the case, presided over by Justice Omotosho. The lawsuit names the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), MultiChoice, StarTimes, and the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) as defendants.

In a statement issued in Abuja, NBMOA Board Chairman Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan expressed concerns that the defendants’ alleged unlicensed operations undermine Nigeria’s regulated media landscape, which could negatively impact both media owners and the audience.

“Our objective is to ensure a fair, regulated media environment in line with established broadcasting standards, while maintaining a commitment to the rule of law,” Ramalan said.

The NBMOA reiterated its dedication to lawful broadcasting standards and stated that it would make no further public comments until the legal process concludes, to respect the judicial process.

Industry stakeholders are closely monitoring this case, which could have far-reaching implications for media regulation and licensing standards across Nigeria.