Amnesty International has denounced a directive issued by Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on April 17, 2026, calling it an "outrageous and desperate attempt" to suppress press freedom. The global rights group described the NBC's formal notice to broadcasters as imposing "unduly restrictive and invasive controls" on journalists, particularly those hosting political and current affairs programmes. Amnesty International stated the commission has no authority to dictate how media professionals perform their duties, warning the directive could force self-censorship and undermine democratic accountability. Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said Nigeria's broadcast media play a vital role in enabling the public to freely access information, as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He urged Nigerian authorities to stop using the NBC to silence independent journalism, calling the directive authoritarian and unconstitutional. The organisation encouraged broadcasters and journalists to continue their work "fiercely and independently without fear," despite increasing pressure.
The NBC claims authority to regulate political broadcasts while Amnesty says it has no power to dictate journalistic conduct—yet the directive stands unchallenged by courts or lawmakers. Isa Sanusi's statement exposes a core tension: if broadcasters follow the NBC's orders, they betray editorial independence; if they defy them, they risk sanctions. Nigerian journalists now operate in a grey zone where state directives clash with constitutional rights and international obligations. The silence of regulatory and judicial bodies leaves media workers exposed to arbitrary enforcement.
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