Amnesty International Critiques NBC's Broadcast Directive

Amnesty International and various civil society organizations have condemned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for its recent directive to broadcasters, which cautions against expressing personal opinions and intimidating guests during political programming. Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated that the NBC's actions target political broadcasts and impose undue restrictions on media, potentially pressuring journalists and leading to self-censorship.

The directive was described as a threat to press freedom and democratic accountability, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of CISLAC expressed concerns over the broad nature of the directive, which lacks specific instances of infractions and could lead to arbitrary enforcement.

The NBC's approach has raised alarms about the potential suppression of dissenting voices and the overall media landscape in Nigeria, with calls for regulatory frameworks to be transparent and inclusive.