The Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Venture (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct Data Minister, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the Nationwide Broadcasting Fee (NBC), to instantly withdraw its latest “Formal Discover,” describing it as illegal and a threat to press freedom..
In a letter dated April 18, 2026, signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation stated the NBC discover “represents a harmful try and impose prior censorship on the media and suppress reputable journalistic expression.”
The NBC had, on April 17, warned broadcasters over alleged breaches of the NBC code and threatened sanctions for “Class B breaches,” together with expressing “private opinions,” intimidation of company, and failure to “preserve neutrality.”
SERAP argued that such restrictions violate Part 39 of the Nigerian structure and worldwide human rights legal guidelines, including that “journalistic opinion is protected expression” and that “worth judgments usually are not vulnerable of proof and revel in heightened safety.”
The group additionally faulted Part 1.10.3 of the code, which prohibits presenters from expressing opinions, saying it “quantities to prior restraint” and fails the checks of legality, necessity, and proportionality in a democratic society.
It warned that imprecise provisions on “professionalism,” “bullying,” and “honest listening to” may allow arbitrary enforcement and create a “chilling impact” on journalists, particularly forward of the 2027 normal elections.
SERAP gave the federal government 48 hours to behave, warning: “If we have now not heard… SERAP shall take all acceptable authorized actions to compel compliance within the public curiosity.”