Rights Groups Condemn NBC’s ‘Censorship’ of Broadcast Media
A formal notice issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on April 17, 2026, warning broadcasters against expressing personal opinions, allegedly intimidating guests, or deviating from neutrality, has triggered sharp condemnation from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Amnesty International.
The commission, citing a rise in breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, stated that as the country enters a critical electoral period ahead of the 2027 general election, “the airwaves must not be used to propagate misinformation.”
However, critics have interpreted the directive as an instrument of state censorship.
Reacting on his verified X account Saturday night, Atiku Abubakar described the advisory as “yet another troubling attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria.” The former Vice-President argued that ethical standards in journalism should not be “seasonal tools to be weaponised during campaigns,” adding that the timing and tone of the regulations “suggest a deeper agenda.” He stated, “I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast industry and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship.”
The political backdrop to the directive is significant. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to field President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027, while opposition figures have coalesced under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a letter dated April 18, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP called on President Tinubu to order the immediate withdrawal of the notice. The organisation described the directive as “unlawful and a threat to press freedom.” SERAP stated, “The NBC’s notice represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression.” The group specifically criticised Section 1.10.3 of the Broadcasting Code, arguing that it amounts to “prior restraint that impermissibly excludes commentary, analysis and value judgments, the core of journalism and democratic discourse.” SERAP gave the government 48 hours to act or face legal action.
Similarly, Amnesty International Nigeria, in a statement, condemned what it termed an “outrageous and desperate attempt” to gag journalists. Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the directive imposes “unduly restrictive and invasive controls” on the media landscape. “The Nigerian authorities must stop using the NBC in an unrelenting quest to silence journalists and media organisations that are crucial to ensuring an independent and diverse media space,” Sanusi stated.
The NBC has yet to issue a formal response to the flurry of criticism from civil society and political figures.