The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has suspended the shutdown of 53 broadcast stations owing licensing fees in the country.

This is following the intervention of the Nigerian chapter of the international Press Institute on Saturday, August 20th.

Recall that the NBC had on Friday revoked the licenses of Daar communications LTD, Silverbird TV network and 50 others over 2.6 billion debt and ordered the affected stations to go off air beginning Saturday, August 20th citing section 10(a) of the broadcasting commission Act CAPN11, laws of the federation of Nigeria,2004.

Reacting to the announcement, the IPI engaged the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and the NBC to implore them to allow amicable resolution of the issue.

Following the intervention, the broadcasting commission has now given the affected stations till Tuesday, August 23 to pay their debt.

The IPI said “We are glad to report that the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilela, has graciously agreed to grant an extension on compassionate ground.

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“Even though this is a temporary relief, we are hopeful that all parties will engage in the next few days with a view to arriving at a lasting resolution of the matter. We thank the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mallam Illela for listening to us and allowing a window for dialogue.

“During our engagement with the Commission, the NBC explained that the commission had in the past granted several concessions to broadcast organisations, including writing off substantial parts of their debts and engaging them consistently to fulfill their financial obligations to the regulator.

“We implore the affected broadcasting organisations to take advantage of this window of opportunity by reaching out to the NBC.

“Nobody benefits when broadcasting stations are shut down. Members of the public have come to rely on these stations to know what their governments are doing to keep them safe in this challenging security environment. Other governments’ policies are also disseminated to the public through these channels.

“In view of the nation’s economic downturn, we further appeal to the affected broadcast stations and the NBC to agree a workable payment arrangement of the outstanding dues.”