Hard hit by low income generation as a result of the current economic downturn and exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that has paralysed businesses across the world and indeed Nigeria, privately owned broadcast stations in northern Nigeria may have to close shop soon.
In a statement signed by chairman of its Executive Council, Dr Ahmed Tijani Ramalan, the Northern Broacast Media Owners Association said nothing short of ‘a quick intervention” can rescue the region’s thriving broadcast stations from being out of business. .
Ramalan said the decision may also “affect about 40 radio and television stations spread across the northeast, northwest and north central, who collectively employ about 40,000 personnel in diverse fields such as engineering, journalism, administration, marketing”
The association also has a combined listenership of 80 million, forming about 85% of the population
The NBMOA is therefore seeking the assistance of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) for a “special intervention and patronage in programmes sponsorships and advertising” to stop the stations from going under.