The media advisory issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been rejected and described as an attempt to stifle free expression and silence dissent in the media.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who disclosed this in an X post on Saturday night, said the NBC advisory is “yet another troubling attempt to muzzle the media and shrink the space for free expression in Nigeria”.
According to Atiku, Nigeria’s media industry has is an formidable institution, respected globally for its resilience and professionalism, saying it is “alarming” that the NBC resorts to “heavy-handed directives” whenever elections approach.
He vowed that “I stand firmly with Nigeria’s broadcast industry and all media platforms resisting this creeping censorship.”
Atiku said the government was more interested in controlling the narrative than in ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
He said 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.
The NBC had, on Saturday, cautioned presenters against presenting opinions as facts or intimidating guests.
The commission also warned that as Nigeria enters a critical electoral period, the airwaves must not be used to propagate misinformation.
