NBC did not withdraw the license of EBS — Edo govt

The Edo State Government on Sunday said the National Communications Commission (NBC) did not withdraw the license of the state’s broadcasting television, Edo Broadcasting Service Television (EBS TV).

In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, urged the public to disregard the false claims, describing them as the handiwork of mischief-makers.

Osagie explained that claims against the license of EBS have been withdrawn over statutory failures. He added that the Channel 55, which the station operates on, falls within the 700MHz band that is being repurposed by the Federal Government following an international treaty established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2015, on which Nigeria is a signatory.

He disclosed that NBC has, however, reassigned a new Channel 45 to Edo Broadcasting Service TV.

He said, “The National Communications Commission did not withdraw the license for Edo Broadcasting Television (EBS TV) over any statutory failures.

“EBS TV, Channel 55, happens to be on the 700MHz band, which, according to the NBC, is being repurposed following an international treaty of the International Telecommunications Union in 2015, of which Nigeria is a signatory.

“The directives for the implementation of the resolutions were specific and time-bound. The National Frequency Management Council had set up a committee of the relevant regulatory bodies to ensure a smooth and effective repurposing of the 700MHz band.

“Letters were written to all affected broadcasting stations within the band to inform them of the developments, notify them of new channels to relocate to, and provide for their compensation needs for payment.

“Affected broadcasting stations were negotiated with beginning from around 2020 and 2021.

“Meanwhile, NBC has reassigned a new Channel 45 to Edo Broadcasting Service TV, while plans are in progress for the compensation for EBS by NBC.”

On the issue of the license fee, Osagie said the station was heavily indebted for over a decade before Governor Godwin Obaseki came into office, adding that in June 2022, the governor approved and began to clear EBS’s indebtedness to the regulatory authorities.