The current security situation in Nigeria is daily throwing up hitherto unknown maladies that have combined to keep Nigeria/Nigerians in a seemingly perpetual darkness. All over the world, the modern media, publicly or privately owned, remain a source of information, education and entertainment depending on what side one finds themselves. In Nigeria, two media outfits, the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN are very ubiquitous. Both outfits, fully owned by the federal government of Nigeria pride themselves as Africa's largest networks.Before 1994 whenRaypower100.5 FM from the stable of Daar Communications PLC, promoted by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, broke the government monopoly in the electronic media sector, the two Federal Government of Nigeria owned networks, NTA and FRCN, held sway throughout the country. Although some states who could afford it owned their own radio and Television stations, the state media outfits relied largely on the FRCN and NTA network news for their national news. In fact, the, who is who in broadcast journalism today in Nigeria mostly cut their teeth with these two networks. The famous Frank Olizes, Livy Ajuonuma-, late Owelle Ikenna Ndaguba, and their like all were alumni of the networks.At the level of the audience, roughly 85% of Nigerians that listen to radio/watch TV all relied on these networks for news, entertainment and other services that news organization offer to their audiences, including advertisement. Their reliance on these networks was as it is, primarily because they had no other alternatives and of course they also effectively cover the country. Although a few tuned to the BBC world service through their shortwave radios, but nothing was close to the influence of NTA and FRCN, nothing!Of course, the government used them maximally to advance their various programmes, even the deceitful and endless transition programmes. As a matter of fact, Nigerians became accustomed to martial music on the FRCN network each time the military boys struck! Similarly, the civilian interregnum also used them for their massive propaganda and political gerrymandering. These times were the 70s through 90s.Fast forward to 2012, NTA and FRCN, how are they faring in a highly deregulated electronic media market' A market where the likes of CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, France 24, Channels, AIT, Silverbird, TV Continental; Raypower, Rhythm, Naija Info, Hot Fm amongst hundreds of other TV networks compete for the eyes/ears of the audience, what can the NTA and FRCN networks offer their viewers and listeners respectively' From all indications, both NTA and FRCN are patterned after the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC owned by the British government. The BBC is usually in the front row in the protection of the rights of the British citizens first, these rights include that to accurate information at all times. In fact, no matter what happens in the house of commons or on No 10 Downing Street, if a British citizen's life is endangered anywhere in the world, that will form the headline of all news till such issue has been given adequate coverage and appropriate attention by the entire population and the government as well. In a sharp contrast, however, with the NTA and FRCN, the story is diametrically different. The government and government alone comes first! For example, if the first Lady, not to talk of the president goes to play golf, while a thousand Nigerians are perishing-say in a Boko Haram detonated bombs, the president's golf will sure and definitely make the headline, while the plight of those defenceless citizens may at best feature in the passing on the network news! The events of the last few weeks have really confirmed that the NTA and FRCN serve only one purpose and one purpose alone: propaganda outfit of the federal government of Nigeria.It was appalling that the Boko Haram mayhem in Yobe and Adamawa states were the focus of several media outfits around the world, and a programme anchor on the Network of FRCN warn Nigerians not to call in and talk security. This was the situation on Saturday'7thJanuary, 2011,radio link programmewhen the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okojo-Iweala Featured on that programme. Similarly, while the rest of Nigeria was shut down during the recent anti-fuel subsidy removal protests, the NTA was rather living in a world of its own, beaming pictures of people going to their offices in 'Lagos', 'Abuja', 'Kaduna', 'Abakaliki',etc when they know same to be false. At no point during the entire period of strike and protest did NTA beam the true picture of events to the viewing public! As a matter of fact, NTA and FRCN (even though their own staff were also visibly on strike!) did all they could through misinformation to break the strike and protests. This is not withstanding, the role of NTA (for example) as stated in the act establishing it namely that: 'It shall be the duty of the Authority(NTA) to provide as a public service in the interest of Nigeria,independentandimpartialtelevision broadcasting for general reception in Nigeria'. Similarly, NTA/FRCNalso tried to fragment the labour movement by carrying such reports that some state branches of the unions were not in agreement with the national leadership. Also, while carrying out these deceitful reports, the networks tried unsuccessfully to incite some sections of Nigerians against others! Their reports made the situation look as if some sections were trying to thwart the effectiveness of the agitations in other regions. They were beaming live, a press conference called by a tribal leader who felt the agitations of Nigerians were biased against their kinsman, and at the same time refused to beam most part of the country where majority of Nigerians were peacefully agitating for the reverse of the obnoxious government policy. The BBC even though is a British government owned media outfit would never give undue advantage to the British government against the British citizen. For instance, the BBC covered in all its ramifications the recent protest on the streets of London and other parts of that country, people in fact relied more on the BBC more than Sky News, a privately owned media organization for authentic news of events in that country. In Nigeria, however, and average educated Nigerian in Nigeria or anywhere in the world would rather tune a foreign channel for an unbiased news of event in Nigeria that tune the NTA or FRCN!In my opinion, I believe these networks can only 'uplift and unite' Nigeria by telling the nation the truth and not half-truths, innuendoes and outright lies! I believe that it will not harm the funding of NTA/FRCN if they tell Nigerians the truth. It becomes very unfortunate when the president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law the freedom of information bill, that the NTA/FRCN who should rather take advantage of the new law to extricate themselves from the 'nonexistent strangle hold' of the government will now further deny Nigerians the right to the right information at this critical period of our nation's life.These media outfits have always been at the forefront of denying access to the right information to Nigerians. In a paper presented in the past, a General Manager of NTA, Dr. Madu G. Mailafiya, vehemently opposed the licensing of private broadcast outfits in Nigeria. His words: 'If private ownership of broadcasting is allowed, thenoble objectivesfor which media are set up would be thrown overboard. The private operator in his drive for profits will air what the people want, rather than what the people need. In most cases, as shown in the UK, Italy, Canada, Australia and the USA. The dangers of private television being a vehicle of cultural imperialism and even foreign subversion will become more acute'.Dr. Mailafia's mindset has always been the position of managers of NTA; however, NTA managers should wake up from their delusion in that the audience know better. Much as Ghaddafi, Ben Ali, Mubarak and lately Mohammed Assad tried to use state media to run down the legitimate agitations of their people, the peoples' power prevailed. NTA and FRCN should rather explore the creative powers of journalism in the discharge of their duties; they will neither harm the government nor Nigerians by telling the truth. In fact, they'll be helping the government to gain the trust of the people by reporting the situations as it is.
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