The Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association (NBMOA) has raised concerns about the unauthorized use of the Arewa symbol by some foreign entities. According to NBMOA, these entities are allegedly using the symbol to exploit and dominate the commercial broadcast media space targeting the Hausa-speaking population, their cultures, and ideals through self-promotional jingles.
NBMOA expressed that this misuse is degrading the “AREWA KNOT,” a symbolic representation of Northern Nigeria that was originally adopted by Sir Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto) as a political identity.
In a letter of complaint to the federal government, signed by Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan on behalf of the Board of Trustees and made available to Daily Trust, the association urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation to instruct the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ban Network Arewa 24 Limited from broadcasting in Nigeria, citing that it violates the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (6th Edition 2016) as an unregistered television station.
Additionally, they requested the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to prohibit Network Arewa 24 Limited, an unlicensed TV channel, from airing advertisements on Nigeria’s Pay Cable/Satellite Bouquets. They also appealed to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to prevent the network from monopolizing consumer rights within Nigeria’s media industry.
NBMOA highlighted that the AREWA symbol was adopted in the 1950s during Nigeria’s preparation for political and economic independence from Britain.
Dr. Ramalan added, “The ownership structure under the SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT OF NETWORK AREWA24 LIMITED clearly shows that all founding shareholders are not Hausa, and therefore lack deep knowledge and understanding of Arewa cultures and ideals. As a result, they engage in practices that contradict these cultures and beliefs. Furthermore, the company’s broadcasting activities are conducted exclusively in Hausa, despite the diverse linguistic landscape of Nigeria. The founding shareholders—Mr. Jacub Arback, Ms. Ronni Goldfarb, Mr. Graham Couturier, and Mr. Celestine Umeibe—are evidently not Hausa.”
The NBMOA, representing NBC-licensed broadcast media station owners, has submitted this complaint to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) against the AREWA 24 TV Channel, asserting that Network AREWA 24 Limited has not been registered with the NBC.
