The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),has ordered the media; television, radio stations and newspapers in Nigeria not to dish out much ‘details’ of the activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in their reports.
The National Broadcasting Commission is the broadcast regulator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Commission ordered especially, radio and television stations not to “glamorize the nefarious activities of insurgents” during their daily Newspaper Reviews.
This was in a letter dated July 7, 2021, signed by the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Francisca Aiyetan, on behalf of the new Director-General of the Commission, Balarabe Ilelah.
The letter which was issued to television and radio stations, was titled, ‘Newspaper Reviews And Current Affairs Programmes: A Need For Caution’.
The letter read in part;
“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;
“Not glamorizing the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits etc.
“Advising guests and/or analysts on programmes not to polarize 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 jeopardize 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.”
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