Stakeholders seek end to arbitrary restrictions on press freedom

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has warned broadcasters, online publishers, bloggers and other participants in Nigeria’s media industry against the use of their platforms to spread misinformation, hate speech, inflammatory material and other content capable of undermining peaceful elections.

The warning comes as political campaigns for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections commenced yesterday.

In a statement released by the Technical Adviser, Moses Jolayemi, on behalf of the Director General of the NBC, Mr Charles Ebuebu, the commission said the commencement of political campaigns placed an even greater responsibility on all those who disseminate information to the public to uphold accuracy, fairness, professionalism and responsibility.

The NBC said radio and television broadcasters, in particular, must recognise that their platforms have enormous influence on public opinion and the choices citizens make during elections.

It therefore urged all licensed broadcasters to ensure that political coverage was fair, balanced and equitable, stressing that stations must not use their platforms to promote or suppress particular political parties, candidates or political viewpoints.

The commission also warned against the unverified presentation of political claims, allegations, statistics or assertions as facts.

According to the statement, allegations involving corruption, criminality, electoral manipulation, misconduct, and other issues capable of damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions must undergo appropriate editorial verification before being broadcast.

The right of reply, it added, must be respected where a person or organisation has been genuinely misrepresented.

The NBC further cautioned presenters, anchors, reporters, producers, and hosts of political programmes against presenting personal political views as established facts.

It said presenters must not intimidate or harass guests, suppress opposing viewpoints or manipulate discussions in favour of particular political interests.

The responsibility for what goes on air, the Commission stressed, remains with the broadcaster, including material introduced by guests, callers and panellists during live or interactive programmes.

IN another development, stakeholders in the industry have called on governments to end arbitrary arrests, harassment, Internet shutdowns, media suspensions and unlawful surveillance of journalists.

They also demanded the repeal or amendment of cybercrime and national security laws being used to criminalise legitimate journalistic work, insisting that restrictions on freedom of expression must be lawful, necessary, proportionate and time-bound.

The stakeholders made the demands in a communiqué adopted at the Regional Conference on Press Freedom and Democratic Governance in West Africa, organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Abuja.

The conference brought together journalists, editors, media owners, publishers, media support organisations, civil society groups, digital rights advocates, legal practitioners, academics, policymakers and development partners from across the region.

The stakeholders expressed concern over what they described as the deterioration of media freedom and the narrowing of civic space in parts of West Africa, particularly amid a growing reliance on cybercrime legislation, emergency laws, national security provisions, surveillance technologies, arrests, detentions, and internet restrictions.

They noted that the measures were having cumulative effects on legitimate journalism and civic expression.