Initially known as Radio Diffusion Service (RDS), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria was established in 1933 by the then-British colonial government. RDS was renamed Nigerian Broadcasting Service in 1950, expanding its chain of stations to Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan and Kano states. In 1957 the broadcaster was renamed again, becoming the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). Under its current name, the corporation appeared in 1978 through the merger of NBC and the Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (BCNN). Today, the corporation is Africa’s largest radio network, with six zonal stations (on SW and MW bands) and 32 FM stations across the country.
In February 2024, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved the merger of the FRCN with the Voice of Nigeria (VON). The newly created entity is to operate as the Federal Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria. Until the new entity begins operations, we will preserve both FRCN and VON in our database. See here the VON profile.
Media assets
Radio: Kapital FM Abuja, Radio One Lagos, Globe FM Bauchi, Supreme FM Kaduna, Power FM Bida, Metro FM Lagos, Peace FM Maiduguri, Pyramid FM Kano, Bond FM Lagos, Sunshine FM Potiskum, Companion FM Katsina, Jewel FM Gombe, Horizon FM Dutse, Gift FM Jalingo, Pride FM Gusau, Fombina FM Yola, Hausa Service 594 Kaduna, Gashua FM, Karama FM Kaduna, Royal FM Sokoto, Equity FM Birnin Kebbi, Precious FM Lafia, Premier FM Ibadan, Coal City FM Enugu, Canaan City FM Calabar, Harvest FM Makurdi, Progress FM Ado Ekiti, Heatland FM IMO, Bronze FM Benin, Highland FM Jos, Gold FM Ilesha (Osun), Purity FM Awka, Creek FM Yenagoa, Harmony FM Ilorin, Paramount FM Abaekuta, Pacesetter FM Umuahia, Atlantic FM Uyo, Prime FM Lokoja, Positive FM Akure, Unity FM Abakaliki, Treasure FM Port-Harcourt, Ogo Ilu FM Oko, Voice FM Nsukka, Charity FM Asaba, Amuludun FM Ibadan, Asabari Saki FM Oyo
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
FRCN was established as a state-owned corporation by Decree No. 8 of 1978 (now known as the FRCN Act). Its governing structures are created and regulated in the same manner as those at NTA. Regional stations are managed by a Director who reports to the General Director of FRCN. In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Muhammed Bulama as CEO of FRCN.
Source of funding and budget
FRCN is almost entirely funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria. In 2020, FRCN received a state subsidy of NGN 7.8bn (US$ 20.3m), according to the budgetary data. The subsidy was granted through the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and represented the largest share of the ministry’s budget for the year. FRCN has been allowed to also generate revenues from advertising since 1988, but local experts estimate that commercial revenue accounts for less than 25% of the total FRCN’s budget.
In 2022, FRCN had a projected budget of NGN 10.92bn (US$ 25m), according to data reported in the media. The company also generated revenues of NGN 1.3bn (US$ 3m). In 2023, FRCN received a state subsidy worth NGN 10.51bn (US$ 13.6m), according to the Nigerian government state budget.
Editorial independence
Although it is required by law to offer independent radio broadcasting as part of its public service mission, FRCN continues to be editorially controlled by the government. That is partly because the FRCN act requires the broadcaster to give space to government officials and authorities, but also because of the culture at FRCN to ensure special treatment for government authorities, according to local journalists and experts. That leads to an obvious slant in covering government-related issues and activities (these issues dominate FRCN’s news agenda).
No domestic statute and independent mechanism of assessment or oversight to validate the editorial independence of FRCN have been identified.
July 2024