By Abdi Ali
Published April 30, 2018
A new television documentary whose aim is to deliver what is described as ‘original and high-impact investigations from across Africa’ has been launched.
Africa Eye, the new documentary strand from British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been launched on April 30, 2018 with an in-depth investigation into the plague of addiction to cough mixture across Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.
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“Africa Eye will promote the culture of investigative journalism across Africa and strengthen the skills of African investigative journalists,” says Nisha Kapur, BBC’s Commissioning Editor for TV, says of the documentary that is expected to air up to 20 investigations annually. “All of the programmes will be based on in-depth reporting that holds power to account. They will tackle topics that are of intense interest and concern to audiences in Africa. These reports will be produced in a fresh and contemporary style that resonates with young audiences.”
Saying Africa Eye will create a network of trained investigative journalists across the continent – within BBC Africa, among the BBC’s partner organisations on the continent–BBC says the new strand is part of its commitment to invest in original content for Africa in English, French, Kiswahili and Hausa as part of the expansion of its BBC World Service.
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In a statement issued on April 30, BBC says it will also work with independent journalists in preparing and presenting Africa Eye. Each episode, it says, will be between 30 minutes and an hour long.
The first–a co-production between Africa Eye and BBC Pidgin–looks at the cough syrup industry and how Codeine is causing a plague of addiction across Nigeria, hooking millions of young people. The programme exposes what is described as ‘senior figures in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry who are moving their legally produced products via the back door of their factories and into the hands of drug dealers who sell the dangerously addictive, sweet tasting opioid for the price of a bottle of cola’.
The episodes, which are available from midnight on April 30, can be accessed via BBC Channels and partners in Kenya (KTN News); Liberia (LNTV); Nigeria (NTA, NTA News 24, ABS Anambra, Liberty TV); Namibia (One Africa TV); Sierra Leone on(SLBC); Uganda (NBS TV); Zambia (QTV); Guinea (RTG); Gabon (RTN); and Niger (ANFANI TV).
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