The National Broadcasting Commission has put television and radio stations on formal notice that presenters who pass off personal opinions as established facts, bully guests on air, or compromise their professional neutrality will face regulatory sanctions, as the commission moves to tighten standards ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
In a statement issued by the commission, the NBC said it had observed a sustained rise in violations of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, particularly across news, current affairs, and political programmes. It warned that broadcast platforms were increasingly being used in ways that departed from their core obligation to inform the public with accuracy, balance, and professionalism.
The commission identified a range of specific infractions driving the trend, including presenters expressing personal positions as objective fact, failing to provide equal representation to opposing views, and permitting inflammatory or divisive content to air without adequate editorial oversight. The NBC stressed that all of these behaviours violated the broadcasting code’s provisions on accuracy, impartiality, and responsible conduct.
It announced that any anchor or presenter found to have expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, denied a fair hearing to opposing views, or otherwise compromised broadcast neutrality would be treated as having committed a Class B breach, a classification that carries concrete regulatory consequences.
The commission also directed its attention at the increasing use of broadcast platforms by political actors to push divisive, inflammatory, and unsubstantiated content. It made clear that broadcasters would bear full editorial responsibility for everything aired, including during live programmes, and that this responsibility could not be passed on to guests.
As Nigeria enters what the NBC described as a critical electoral period, the commission urged all broadcasters to ensure that the airwaves served as platforms for credible information and national cohesion rather than vehicles for misinformation and social tension. It stressed that compliance with the broadcasting code was mandatory and not a matter of choice.
