Wondering how radio broadcasting came to be in Nigeria? Then you’ve come to where your curiosity would be sated. Read on to learn the history of radio broadcasting in Nigeria. Let’s dive in.
The history of radio broadcasting in Nigeria would be discussed below:
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Introduction of Radio Broadcasting in Pre-Independence Nigeria
Although radio broadcasting had already gained momentum in the 1920s, in more developed nations (like Great Britain), its introduction in Nigeria began in 1933. Radio broadcasting was established in Nigeria under the Department of Ports and Telegraphy, Lagos, by the British colonial authority as an experiment of the empire service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It was established as a radio distribution service (RDS), which entailed that only foreign programmes of BBC could be relayed to the audience in Nigeria, usually through loudspeakers.
Two years after the initial introduction of the radio distribution system in Nigeria, in 1935, it was changed to a radio diffusion system. The radio diffusion system made it possible for licensed receivers in Lagos to be able to rebroadcast radio programmes from BBC, as well as make some local announcements and pass the information on happenings in Nigeria. Four years after it was changed to the radio diffusion service, the number of licensed receivers rose to about 2000. By 1939, a station was established in Ibadan, in 1949, another was established in Kano.
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Creation of the National Broadcasting Service (NBS)
In the early 1950s, the British colonial authority thought
about establishing a West African broadcasting station and sought the recommendations of the firms of F.A.W. Bryon and L.W. Turner on the feasibility of their plan. The recommendation of the Bryon/Turner committee was that instead of establishing a sub-regional station that would face the problem of the multiplicity of local languages and cultures, it is better to set up broadcasting in Nigeria with a national identity. This led to the creation of the National Broadcasting Service (NBS), replacing the radio diffusion system. The NBS then created autonomous radio stations in Enugu in Eastern Nigeria, and in Kaduna in Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, more stations were created in Jos, Ilorin, Sokoto, and Kano. Note, all these radio stations were government-owned
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Establishment of Regional Broadcasting in Nigeria
As the NBS created additional stations across the country, nationalists began to clamour for permission to operate their own broadcast stations. The McPherson Constitution when newly introduced in 1953, sanctioned the establishment of regional broadcasting, however, to the chagrin of the nationalists who wished to be able to operate their stations without the control of the federal government. Nationists like Obafemi Awolowo openly criticized the McPherson Constitution, as regards regional broadcasting.
The Governor-General then, Sir John McPherson, did not take those criticisms likely, in fact, one time he went to the NBS to defend the McPherson Constitution and also to accuse Obafemi Awolowo of being unfaithful. Obafemi Awolowo was gutted and sought the chance to defend his stance through the NBS and react to the accusations of the Governor-General. He was denied the right to use the NBS and it resulted in a wave of agitations for the incorporation of regional broadcasting in Nigeria.
The continuous agitations yielded success as the constitution then incorporated the NBS to be operated on regional levels, thus clearing the way for the establishment of regional radio and television stations. That is, broadcasting was moved to the concurrent list in the McPherson Constitution. By May 1960, the Western Nigerian government established a radio station under the auspices of the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS). In the years that followed other regions established their broadcasting stations.
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Reorganizing National Broadcasting Service (NBS) into Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)
In 1957, members of the federal parliament decided to change the National Broadcasting Station into Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation. As Nigeria gained independence in 1960, local broadcasting developed even further. By 1961, the NBC Act was amended to empower the Federal Minister of Information to give general and specific directives concerning the NBC as regards policy and appointments to the board. Later on, in 1962, the NBC external service, Voice of Nigeria was inaugurated.
By 1978, the NBC VON became the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). There was a resultant boost in the production of local content in the country as the more new states were created the more radio stations were established.
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Reverse on Regional Radio Broadcasting in Nigeria
During the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo’s rule, in 1976, the federal government made a reverse on regional broadcasting in Nigeria. All the radio stations (as well as television stations) were taken over by the federal government, that is, the financing and control of these stations were to be made by the federal government. So, back to the exclusive list broadcasting went.
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The reverse of the Nullification of Regional Radio Broadcasting in Nigeria
Broadcasting remained on the exclusive list until 1970, when the new civilian government at that time, rescinded the takeover of the radio and television channels by the federal government. So, state governments were once again permitted to operate radio and television stations.
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Deregulation of Broadcasting in Nigeria
Remember, we stated earlier in the article that only governments, that is, state and federal governments, could own and operate a radio station (or television) in Nigeria. But that changed in 1992 when General Ibrahim Babagida-led military administration deregulated the broadcasting industry in Nigeria. This reversal was backed by Decree 38 of 1992 (it was later amended as Act of National Assembly, Act 55 of 1999, now known as National Broadcasting Commissions Law of FRN, 2004).
With that decree, NBC was empowered to regulate and control broadcasting in Nigeria, and issue licenses to individuals and organizations to operate radio and television stations in the country. And the landscape of broadcasting became more competitive and sophisticated as the various stations strived to deliver quality programmes to their audiences. The first private radio station was Ray Power FM, which was launched in 1994. And, that’s how you are now able to tune to hundreds of private radio stations from across Nigeria on your radio sets today.