The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a strong warning to broadcasters over declining professional standards, cautioning that violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code will attract sanctions as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released by its Public Affairs Department, the commission said it had observed a worrying rise in unethical conduct among presenters and programme anchors, particularly in news, current affairs, and political shows.
The NBC highlighted repeated breaches of core journalistic principles, including fairness, balance, and neutrality. According to the regulator, some presenters now blur the line between opinion and fact, deny opposing voices fair representation, and allow inflammatory or divisive content on air.
The commission made it clear that such conduct will no longer be tolerated.
“Henceforth, any anchor or presenter found to have expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, denied fair hearing to opposing views, or otherwise compromised neutrality, shall be deemed to have committed a Class B breach,” the statement said.
It stressed that editorial responsibility lies squarely with broadcast organisations, even during live programming, noting that accountability cannot be shifted to guests.
The NBC said the warning follows a steady increase in code violations, raising concerns that broadcast platforms are being misused in ways that undermine professionalism and the delivery of accurate information.
The regulator also flagged the growing use of media platforms by political actors to spread hate speech, incite division, and threaten national unity.
Reaffirming its stance, the commission vowed strict enforcement of the broadcasting code, warning that any content deemed inflammatory, unverified, or divisive will attract sanctions.
As political activities gather pace ahead of 2027, the NBC urged broadcasters to uphold ethical standards and ensure the airwaves remain a source of credible information and national cohesion.
