The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has extended the period in which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday. The regulatory commission said people and organisations appealed for the extension of the earlier deadline.

The director-general of NBC, Balarabe Ilelah, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

NBC had on Friday revoked the licences of the AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication Ltd., Silverbird TV Network and 50 other stations over N2.6 billion debts.

The commission ordered the affected stations to shut down in the next 24 hours and directed NBC offices nationwide to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure immediate compliance.

Mr Ilelah, however, said the extension of the enforcement date was due to an appeal by the affected broadcast stations, relevant stakeholders, public-spirited individuals and organisations.

“This is to inform all the affected broadcast stations whose licences were revoked and given 24 hours to pay all outstanding licence fees that NBC has extended the period in which all outstanding debts are to be paid from 24 hours to Wednesday, August 23,” stated the NBC boss.

He added, “All affected broadcast stations which fail to defray their debts on or before August 23, 2022, are directed to shut down by 12:00 a.m. on August 24, 2022.”

(NAN)