Nigeria to enforce 70% local content in radio, TV production

As part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s broadcast industry, the federal government says it will enforce 70 per cent local content in radio and television programmes in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced this at a meeting with the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (ENCOAN) in Lagos on Monday.

This is coming on the heels of contention against his ministry’s intention to secure a $500 million loan for the upgrade of the nation’s broadcasting infrastructure and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Describing the move as revolutionary, Mr Mohammed said reforms in the broadcast industry are pertinent for new innovations and improvements in the sector.

He said further that the new legislation on broadcasting in the country had shattered monopoly and had given room for competitiveness.

“Now if you take a copy of the new Broadcasting Code, you will see that we have done a lot of work. We have broken the monopoly in the industry and we are going to ensure that we enforce the 70 per cent local content in our broadcasting.

“The reforms that we have undertaken will promote local content and will give value to your creative work,” he said.

The minister urged members of EMCOAN to take advantage of the new policy and look at new frontiers in content production, especially for women and children programmes.

– Premium Times