By Molade Adegbuyi
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned three broadcast stations for their reports on COVID-19 considered inappropriate.
Another 25 stations were also sanctioned and fined for various offences in the first quarter of 2020.
The Acting Director General, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, announced this during a media briefing which was monitored by Irohinoodua on the amendment to the broadcast code and other issues.
The stations sanctioned on the account of their report on COVID-19 were Breeze FM and Adaba FM in Akure, Ondo state and 25 others were sanctioned for unprofessional conducts.
They are to pay N250,000 for the offences. Adaba station, it was also learnt, was sanctioned twice that means they would pay N500,000.
On the broadcast code, the DG said the amended code will soon be published.
Also, the DG said a new time table for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) roll out will be announced immediately after the lockdown.
Idachaba said part of the plan was to roll out in the three major cities of the country Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.
He said the commission has received assurance from signal distributors to ensure the success of the roll out.