NBC, in a statement specifically directed
radio and television stations not to “glamourise the nefarious activities of
insurgents” during their daily newspaper reviews.
Many of the broadcast stations in the
country make newspaper headlines review parts of their daily programmes.
However, according to a letter dated July
7, 2021, issued to television and radio stations, the regulator called for
“caution” by broadcasters while reporting security challenges in the country.
The letter titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews and
Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’, was signed by the Director,
Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General
of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah.
The letter reads, “Headlines of most
Newspapers daily 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;
“Not glamourising the nefarious activities
of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, etc.
“Advising guests and/or analysts on
programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving
home their point.
“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.”
For over a decade, Nigeria has been
grappling with insurgency, especially in the North-Eastern part of the West
African nation. At various times, the Nigerian Army and the Presidency had
claimed that Boko Haram fighters and those of its splinter group, the Islamic
State in West Africa Province, had been defeated but the marauders continue to
strike with crude savagery and unimaginable guts. According to Global Conflict
Tracker, the insurgents have killed nearly 350,000 innocent women, children,
and farmers in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, amongst other volatile places, since 2009.
The federal government has rolled out a
cocktail of policies, which critics say could affect freedom of expression in
the country.
This includes the prodding of 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, citing “the persistent
use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s
corporate existence.”