The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has charged broadcast organisations in the country to maintain high ethical standards and to shun unverified and sensational reports that could cause division and disaffection among young Nigerians.
Governor Otu gave the charge on Thursday in Calabar while declaring open the 82nd General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, holding in the state capital.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, said broadcasters have a critical role to play in promoting national unity, peace and responsible citizenship, particularly among the youth population.
He noted that the youth remain the most active consumers of broadcast content and are easily influenced by information, whether verified or false, hence the need for practitioners to be circumspect and professional in their reportage.
According to him, the media should be a tool for building bridges, fostering understanding and encouraging positive engagement among young people, rather than being used to deepen ethnic, political and social divisions.
Governor Otu described his administration as media-friendly and supportive of press freedom, adding that the state government recognises the strategic importance of the media in driving development and democratic governance.
He disclosed that his government has made significant investments in broadcast infrastructure in the state, with a view to repositioning state-owned media organisations for effective service delivery and wider coverage.
He listed some of the investments to include the rehabilitation of facilities at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, and support for digital migration and content development initiatives.
Otu assured that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for both public and private broadcast organisations to thrive in the state, while urging them to reciprocate by upholding professionalism.
He commended BON for choosing Calabar as the host city for its 82nd General Assembly, noting that the state is peaceful, hospitable and ready to partner with the media for the promotion of the state’s image.
In his remarks at the Assembly, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Mr. Tony Akiotu, painted a gloomy picture of the operational challenges facing broadcast stations across the country.
Akiotu lamented that the rising cost of diesel, epileptic electricity supply, high tariffs and the exorbitant cost of importing broadcast equipment and spare parts were crippling the industry.
He explained that the combination of these challenges has forced some radio and television stations to completely shut down operations, while others have been compelled to drastically cut down their daily transmission hours.
According to the BON Chairman, many stations can no longer afford to run 24-hour services due to the high cost of fueling generators, as they rely heavily on diesel to power their transmitters and studios following unreliable power supply from the national grid.
He noted that the broadcast industry, which is capital intensive, requires huge financial outlay for maintenance, equipment upgrade and staff welfare, but that revenues have dwindled due to harsh economic conditions.
Akiotu therefore appealed to the federal and state governments to come to the aid of broadcast stations by providing special intervention funds, tax waivers on imported equipment and concessions on tariffs.
He also called for a review of policies affecting the broadcast industry, including the need for affordable access to foreign exchange for equipment importation and stable electricity supply to reduce operational costs.
The BON Chairman equally used the occasion to condemn the growing cases of intimidation, harassment and detention of journalists in the line of duty, describing it as an attack on press freedom and democracy.
He warned against the rising trend of political thuggery, attacks on media houses and assault on journalists, especially as political activities and electioneering intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akiotu urged security agencies and political actors to protect journalists and ensure that media practitioners are allowed to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without fear or intimidation.
He stressed that the media remains a critical stakeholder in the democratic process and must be protected from violence and political interference if the country must deepen its democratic culture and maintain national cohesion.
The General Assembly, which attracted broadcast chiefs, regulators and stakeholders from across the federation, also featured deliberations on digital broadcasting, content regulation and sustainability of the industry in the face of current economic realities.
Participants commended the Cross River State Government for its hospitality and for providing a conducive atmosphere for the meeting, expressing optimism that the resolutions reached at the assembly would help reposition the broadcast industry for greater efficiency and professionalism.
They also pledged to work collectively towards promoting ethical journalism, national unity and development, while calling on government at all levels to fulfil their promises of supporting the media as the fourth estate of the realm.
