National NewspapersNigeria has well over a hundred news publications which includes dailies, weeklies, periodicals and scores of house journals published by companies and professional organizations. The papers circulate to all parts of Nigeria and to neighbouring African countries and beyond.
National NewspapersSome of the national papers currently published in Lagos are the
"Daily Times"
They each have their Sunday editions.
Outside Lagos, there are some other newspapers published regularly. These include the
to name a few. Some vernacular newspapers include
Most of the newspapers with large circulation are produced on rotary or with offset printing presses. Photographs are received or transmitted by wires over long distances. Generally, the standard of news coverage and production of the papers have improved tremendously during the last decade.
The national newspapers (that is those distributed to all parts of Nigeria) have local correspondents outside Nigeria. Others not strong enough financially to have correspondents abroad depend on the news agencies.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
The Nigerian Television Authority was established by Decree 24 of May 1977 to take over the operation of television services in the country. It also has established stations in the states as part of National Television Authority.
There are over 24 functional television stations including NTA 2, channels 5, Lagos, under the umbrella of NTA, operating on very high frequency (VHF) channels. There are 16 stations owned by state governments, and about five private television stations in the country. Each station transmits an average of eight hours daily. Viewership is estimated at 50 million. The NTA has 53 transmitters dispersed through out the federation. State government stations own 16 transmitters.
State-owned television stations transmit on Ultra High Frequency (UHF) channels.
The FRCN was established by a Decree promulgated on February 28,1979.
The Act stipulates that the FRCN shall be responsible for radio broadcasting on short wave or powerful Medium Wave for effective simultaneous reception in more than one state of the federation at any point in time. Most States in the Federation operate their own private Radio Stations. It is also the duty of the Corporation-to provide impartial radio broadcasting services for general reception within the country and at the same time give adequate expression to the culture, characteristics and affairs and opinion of each state.
The Voice of Nigeria went on air on January 1, 1962 as part of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation. The Corporation is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
The VON has five directorates. These are the Directorates of News, Programmes, Engineering, Finance and Supplies and Personnel.
The news and programmes originating from the VON reflects views of Nigeria as a Federation and give adequate expression to the diverse culture and characteristics of the different peoples within the country. The news, views and comments from the station are geared towards strengthening Nigeria's policy and image.
The station broadcasts in six languages for 18 hours a day in the following frequencies - 725KHZ, 41m; 1177KHZ, 25m; 1512KHZ, 19m; 9690KHZ, 31m. The languages are English, Hausa, French, Arabic, Swahili and Fulfude.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)The News Agency of Nigeria was created in May 1976, by Decree No. 19 as amended by Decree No. 10 of 1978, solely as an organization established for the purpose of news gathering, distribution of news and as a channel of information to the people and more especially to those who require the services.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) like most World's News Agencies, belongs to the group of National News Agencies. In essence it is owned and controlled by the government of Nigeria. However, rather than use NAN as an instrument of propaganda, the Nigeria Government established NAN with the bid to ensure that news about Nigeria and Nigerians is not only made available to the world press but ensure that news from all nooks and crannies of the country is made available to the media.
Although the primaiy duty of NAN is to uphold the integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as promote harmonious relationship between the various ethnic groups of the country, NAN must always ensure that news items and comments from the agency does not jeopardise peace and harmony in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria operates on the following functions and objectives:
NAN also offers commercial services otherwise known as the Bizcomm Services, The Business and Communication Services commenced since November 1991. NAN Bizcomm Services, delivers and receives messages for clients throughout the country.
Private Radio and Television StationsThe media in Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds. In view of the existing press freedom and in consonance with the Federal government liberalization policy, private radio and television stations were granted license to operate in the country. Some of those presently in operation include Ray Power 100 radio Station and African Independent Television (AIT) owned by DAAR Communications; Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN), Channels Television, Muhri International Television (MITV) and Clapper Board Television all operating in the Lagos area.
In addition Government has given approval to two private organisations to operate satellite services in the country. The AIT in Lagos and Minaj in Obosi, Anambra State.