The Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to order the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw immediately the “last warning” and threat to revoke broadcast licences and shut down stations over their election coverage. The NBC had recently warned that it would not hesitate to shut down or revoke any licence it deemed capable of undermining the country’s peaceful coexistence, a statement made after a meeting between NBC Director‑General Balarabe Ilelah and broadcasters concerning the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
In a letter dated 11 March 2023, signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization warned that the NBC’s warning, if not withdrawn, would curtail freedom of expression and impede broadcasters’ ability to cover the 2023 general election. SERAP argued that threatening to shut down stations for performing their “watchdog role” violates Nigeria’s constitutional and international human‑rights obligations. The letter stated: “Political expression is a fundamental right. The threat by the NBC creates a significant risk that legitimate expression may be prohibited… Such unlawful prohibition may prevent transparency and dissemination of information on legitimate issues of public interest around the 2023 general election.” SERAP requested action within 48 hours of receiving the letter and warned that, failing a response, it would pursue all appropriate legal measures in the public interest.
SERAP further explained that the NBC’s threat would directly affect broadcasters in ways inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom. The federal government, it said, has a legal duty to ensure an environment where diverse political opinions and ideas about the general election can be freely expressed and debated. The commission’s warning, described as neither necessary nor proportionate, would unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ rights. Moreover, the use of vague terms such as “unpatriotic individuals,” “subversive, hateful, and inciting utterances, particularly post‑election,” to justify shutting down stations is incompatible with human‑rights standards.
Finally, SERAP noted that both the Nigerian Constitution and international human‑rights treaties obligate the government to avoid restrictions that do not meet human‑rights criteria, including on political and election‑related discussion. Threatening broadcasters solely for covering election issues on the basis of ambiguous phrases like “unguarded statements, divisive and dangerous comments,” or “negative conversations” contravenes these obligations. Such threats could stifle reporting on political matters and deter the public from exercising their right to free expression, especially on controversial or critical election topics.
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