FIJ
In 2022, Report Without Borders ranked Nigeria 129 out of 180 countries in its freedom of press index, describing the country as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.
What the report perhaps overlooked was how the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had continued to punish local news networks on allegations of infractions against the professional code of ethics laid down to moderate the industry.
The NBC establishment law empowers it to license, monitor and regulate the media space, and met out punishment to any news channels confirmed to have violated practice directions.
Owing to the sensitive role the media plays in the democratic life of the country, it is always a topic of great concern each time the NBC comes with its big stick against licensed radio and television stations.
