Popular Abuja-radio programme “Brekete family” back on air

Brekete Family prides itself as being the only reality radio talk magazine programme in Nigeria.

An Abuja-based radio station, Crowther Love FM, has restored its popular programme, ‘Brekete Family’ on air after the resolution of a disagreement between the station and its independent producer.

According to the programme’s website, the radio talk show is designed for the poor and the rich in the society, whose fundamental rights had been violated.

The popular live radio programme aired on Thursday morning, 7.30 to 8.30 a.m., before a near three-week absence on the airwaves.

The General Manager of the Station, Sam Akpan, in an interview said on Monday that the dispute with the independent producer of the programme had been resolved.

Mr. Akpan said the programme was forced to go off-air after the presenter refused to sign an undertaking not to use uncouth language on air and abide by the National Broadcasting Code, NBC.

He said the station received a letter from the producer on Monday stating that he would conform to the rules and regulations of the NBC.

He added that the management of the station considered the decision of the producer as “a right action,” and gave him the green light to resume the programme.

Mr. Akpan also said that the station has two pending court cases linked to the programme on alleged libel and defamation of character.

He, however, insisted that the court cases had nothing to do with the suspension of the radio programme.

Also speaking on the temporary suspension of the programme, Salihu Auwalu, the spokesman of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, said the commission had its “concern on the way the radio programme was run”.

He, however, denied any complicity in the programme temporarily going off-air.

Mr. Auwalu said the commission had made efforts “in the normal way” to draw the station’s attention to the programme.

“We were concerned about the style of presentation.

“We were concerned that the programme did not show enough respect for the power of the medium and the effects that it could have on the society and we made our concerns very clear to the station,” he said.

Brekete Family, which prides itself as the “only reality radio talk magazine programme in Nigeria,” has been off-air for at least three weeks.

The programme’s presenter and President of Brekete Family worldwide, Ahmad Isah (Ordinary Ahmed) is known for strong criticism of under-performing government agencies and officials.

(NAN)