The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order the withdrawal of a recent directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to broadcast stations across the country.
The group made the call in a statement shared on X, urging the President to direct the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the NBC to withdraw the notice.
SERAP also wants the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the NBC to step back from enforcing the notice, which it says was issued on 17 April 2026.The group said the directive threatens sanctions against broadcasters over issues such as the expression of personal opinions, alleged intimidation of guests, and concerns about maintaining neutrality in programming.
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According to SERAP, the terms used in the notice are broad and unclear, warning that they could be used to restrict normal journalistic work and limit freedom of expression in the media space.It further described the action as capable of encouraging censorship and placing unnecessary pressure on journalists and presenters in the course of their duties.
SERAP maintained that both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards guarantee freedom of expression and protect the right of journalists to perform their work without undue interference.It therefore urged the federal government to ensure that broadcasting regulations are not used in a way that undermines press freedom or weakens democratic accountability.
