The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has extended revocation of operational licences of 52 broadcasting stations owing N2.6 billion licence renewal fee, to Wednesday.
Recall oyoaffairs.net had reported that NBC had given the debtor stations, including three Ibadan stations, 24 hours to renew their licences or risk closure.
The broadcast stations affected in Oyo State are Splash FM, Space FM and MITV.
The extension of the revocation is coming after multiple criticism from media bodies and citizens.
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, to revoke the licences of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over indebtedness as a hasty decision, noting that it was ill advised.
Meanwhile, the NBC in a statement signed by its Director General, Balarabe Shehu llelah said the commission had extended the deadline to Wednesday following appeals from affected stations.
“This is to inform all the affected broadcast stations whose licences were revoked and given 24 hours to pay all outstanding licence fees, that the National Broadcasting Commission has extended the period which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday, August 24.
“All affected broadcast stations who fail to defray their debts on or before August 23, 2022 are directed to shut down by 12 am on August 24, 2022.
“This extension is due to the appeal by the affected broadcast stations, relevant stakeholders, public spirited individuals and organisations,” the statement stated.