By Chinenye Festus:-
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday at an event in Lagos revealed that the government has raised the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5 million.
The Minister explained that the code was reviewed in line with the directive of the President for an inquiry into the regulatory role of the NBC in the wake of the 2019 general elections.
He also stated that President Buhari has ordered a probe on the conduct broadcast stations before and after poll. He said the government would not waver and asked those who still have misgivings about the amendment to the 6th Edition of the Code to meet with the regulator and present their views.
The minister maintained that opportunities must be created with a belief that effective regulatory interventions are guaranteed ways of attaining such.
Mohammed also raised concerns that such persons have resorted to blackmail and using what he called hack writers. He however decried that reactions to the last amendment were concerns who thought their business interest was superior to that of the nation.
He insists that the Buhari-led administration has the interest of every Nigeria at heart and is working relentlessly to create jobs for creative Nigerian youth.
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