President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval to 159 companies, communities and institutions of higher learning to operate radio and television stations.
Malam Balarabe Ilelah, the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), made the disclosure in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, NAN reports.
Ilelah said, “Following the approval granted by the president, NBC has released the list of 159 licenses granted to companies, communities and institutions of higher learning.
“The commission was established by the NBC ACT, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation 2004 with the mandate to regulate and control broadcasting in Nigeria.
“Today, there are a total of 625 functional broadcast stations in Nigeria.’’
Ilelah disclosed that the newly-approved licenses were the Prospective Union of Reno People (Radio), the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (Radio), Smile Community Radio Initiative and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Radio.
According to him, others are Independent Television, Prince Media Network, Jamkat Integrity Investment Ltd., Dudu African Broadcasting Communications Ltd., Galaxy Television Radio, Hikima Media Services, H-i Fidelity Communications, B360 Nigeria Ltd., Communication Faculties Ltd., Art Broadcasting Company, Hamdana Media, Sunshine Radio, Blue Print Newspapers Ltd., NV Broadcasting Company Ltd., Godfrey Okoye University Radio, and others.