The Centre for Media and Society, (CEMESO), has joined the rest of the world, on the
occasion of the World Radio Day 2024, to celebrate the radio broadcasting medium.
In a press release in commemoration of World Radio Day, in Lagos, the group called for an improved environment of freedom, pluralism and sustainability.
It identified with this year’s theme which is ‘Radio: A Century of Informing Entertaining and Educating.
CEMESO noted that as a medium of communication, radio played important roles within national
and international contexts in such governance and development areas as electoral
mobilisation, health, agriculture, conflict management and peace-building among
others.
”We observe that radio continues to be a resilient medium in Nigeria even as it
passed through various phases of development: first, as a component of British
colonial broadcasting service in the 1930s; as government monopoly for over three
decades after the country’s political independence in 1960 and as a multi-player
platform since the early 1990s.
”The liberalization of the broadcasting sector in the past three decades has
witnessed the entry and participation in radio, of new sections of the population
such as businesses, grassroot communities and educational institutions.
”The growth in plurality has been accompanied by innovations in programming and
engagement of issues which appeal to the diverse tastes of the population.
However, as we celebrate the big strides that radio has made in Nigeria, it is
important to note that some key challenges have emerged.
”First, the state of the freedom of the journalist in radio broadcasting remains
worrisome. There continues to be censorship, particularly in the state-owned
broadcasting outlets. The safety of journalists continues to be violated in the line
of duty, including during coverage of the nation’s electoral processes.”
The added that recent threats about the passage of restrictive legislations by top officials in the
executive and legislative branches of government suggest that difficult times are
ahead for radio broadcasting professionals in the digital era.
”We call on the government at the federal and state levels to provide an enabling
environment for radio broadcasters by removing obstacles to editorial freedom in
the outlets that they control; the security agencies to prioritise the safety of
journalists in their operational procedures; and the National Assembly to reform
old laws which impede media freedom while enacting new ones which align with
international standards.
”Second, the declining state of the economy has adversely affected media
economics and management in various ways. Cost of broadcasting equipment
mostly sourced from outside the country and local overheads such as energy costs
have become unbearable for media managers.”
CEMESO urged the Federal Government to consider support to the industry in such areas
as duty waivers for broadcasting equipment and creative funding mechanisms for
broadcasting in the reform of the sector.
”Third, the widely commended level of pluralism achieved in the broadcasting sector
with the introduction of community radios is experiencing a downturn. The subsector is now receiving scanty attention in licensing exercises; the regulatory framework has not demonstrated any substantial consideration of the sub-sector’s needs; while certain interests with no community development objectives, are investing in hijacking the licenses meant for this subsector.
”In this context, we welcome the announcement by the Federal Government to
carry out reforms and strengthen the community broadcasting sector. This step is
long overdue. We implore the government to undertake the reforms in a
participatory and comprehensive manner.
”Fourth, the quantitative expansion in the radio broadcasting sector, in terms of
increase in the quantity of licenses, outlets and personnel, does not appear to be growing in alignment with availability of digital sector skills and facilities. Development of specialized digital skills in the sector has become urgent.”
It also urged the Federal Government to invest vigorously in development of digital
skills, saying the way to go is for the government to implement what it articulated in its
White Paper on Switch-Over to Digital Broadcasting: merge its training structures
currently domiciled in the NTA and FRCN into one multi-campus national
broadcasting training institution, to provide training opportunities to the large
number of professionals in broadcasting.
”As we celebrate World Radio Day, let all stakeholders salute the radio medium; let
the government of Nigeria and other stakeholders pursue the agenda to achieve
an improved environment for freedom, pluralism and sustainability in the radio
broadcasting sector.”
