The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has asked broadcast stations in Nigeria not to report the details of attacks by bandits and insurgents. I
The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has asked broadcast stations in Nigeria not to report the details of attacks by bandits and insurgents.
In a letter dated July 7 and titled ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, directed radio and television stations not to glamourise attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in their reports.
The letter which was signed by Francisca Aiyetan, director of broadcast monitoring, the NBC on behalf of Balarabe Ilelah, director-general of NBC partly reads, “Headlines of most Newspapers on a daily basis are replete with security topics. While bringing information on security to the doorsteps of Nigerians is a necessity, there is a need for caution as too many details may have an adverse implication on the efforts of our security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.
“The Commission, therefore, enjoins broadcasters to collaborate with the government in dealing with the security challenges by:
1. Not glamourising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc.
2. Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.
3. Not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents.
The Commission also reminded the broadcast stations to be guided by provisions of Sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NBC Code which states thus:
“The broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the divisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state. In reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy and neutrality.”
This new directive is seen by many as another attempt to muzzle the press. The federal government through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has in recent time, done all he can to gag the media by prodding the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act, one that has been fiercely opposed by media stakeholders who have described the move as an information blackout akin to the infamous Protection Against False Accusations Decree, otherwise known as Decree 4 of 1984.
The Federal Government had also announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria on June 4, 2021, saying the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence. is the reason for its suspension.
