In a fiery and deeply concerned statement that has sent ripples across Nigeria’s media landscape, the Lagos Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) has sounded an urgent alarm over the growing tide of attacks, intimidation, and unlawful interference targeted at broadcasters across the country.
Describing the trend as “a dangerous threat to constitutional freedoms, national development, and public trust,” SNB Lagos Chairman, J. Ayo Makinde, minced no words in calling out the systemic assault on press freedom, warning that Nigeria’s democracy itself is under siege.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Makinde stressed. “They are symptoms of a wider assault on the media’s constitutionally mandated role to hold government accountable.”
The Constitution Is Clear — But So Are The Attacks
At the heart of the SNB’s outcry lies Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which affirm the media’s duty to hold power to account and ensure the free flow of information.
But what happens when the very institutions meant to uphold these freedoms become the biggest threats?
According to Makinde, broadcasters are being crushed under the weight of vague laws, misused regulations, and outright intimidation — a cocktail that is eroding press freedom and muzzling the media.
From colonial-era relics like sedition and criminal defamation to more recent tools like the Cybercrimes Act, Terrorism Prevention Act, and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, these legal instruments — though valid in intent — have become “blunt instruments of fear,” Makinde warned.
“These laws are being weaponised. Instead of protecting the media space, they’re shrinking it. What we’re seeing is not regulation; it’s suppression.”
Real Incidents, Real Consequences
Makinde didn’t speak in abstractions. He laid out a timeline of disturbing events that clearly illustrates how far-reaching the media crackdown has become.
August 2025
Niger State Governor Umar Bago threatened to shut down Badeggi FM 90.1, overstepping his powers since only the NBC holds the legal authority to revoke a station’s license.
Ebonyi State
Legacy FM’s Acting GM, Godfrey Chikwere, was suspended for criticising the governor.
April 2024
Channels TV came under intense scrutiny after airing a sensitive interview.
Rivers State (2023)
Government forces demolished RayPower FM and AIT masts — a move widely condemned.
2022
A ₦5 million fine was slammed on Trust TV and others for documentaries on insecurity.
2019: The NBC controversially suspended AIT and RayPower, triggering national outrage.
“When you silence broadcasters, you don’t just attack media professionals,” Makinde said. “You attack democracy. You weaken public trust. You limit citizen participation in governance. And ultimately, you hurt national development.”
The Chilling Effect: Fear, Censorship, And Silence
Beyond the headline-grabbing crackdowns, Makinde highlighted a deeper, more insidious danger: self-censorship.
“Media houses, particularly smaller ones in rural areas, are increasingly afraid to speak truth to power,” he said. “They fear losing their licenses or facing crippling fines.”
The result is a quiet, creeping silence where bold journalism once thrived.
It’s a dangerous tradeoff, where fear replaces freedom and caution overtakes courage.
There Is A Way Forward — But It’s Narrow
Despite the grim outlook, the SNB believes that the media still has a fighting chance — if it stays grounded in ethics and professionalism, and if the government embraces openness rather than suppression.
Makinde called for:
Stricter adherence to journalistic ethics
Improved legal literacy among practitioners
Multi-platform broadcasting strategies to reduce single-channel vulnerability
Greater audience engagement to build solidarity and public support
He also stressed the need for stronger internal accountability mechanisms, supported by professional bodies like the SNB, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
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“The sustainable path for any government is good governance and genuine open communication, not silencing critical voices. Dialogue builds stability; censorship breeds mistrust.”
This Is About All Of Us
What’s happening to Nigeria’s broadcasters isn’t just a media issue — it’s a national emergency.
When journalists are gagged, citizens are left in the dark. When broadcasters are bulldozed — literally and figuratively — the entire nation loses a vital pillar of democracy.
This isn’t just about the press. It’s about every Nigerian’s right to know, to question, to speak, and to participate in the democratic process.
Makinde’s final words ring like a clarion call: “A nation that limits access to information also limits its ability to grow.”
And in a time when Nigeria needs transparency, innovation, and unity more than ever, silencing the media is not just counterproductive — it’s catastrophic.
