The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a strong warning to television and radio presenters, cautioning against bullying guests during live interviews and presenting personal opinions as facts.
In a statement released on April 17, 2026, the NBC expressed concern over what it described as a growing number of violations of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs, and political programmes.
According to the commission, broadcast platforms are increasingly being used in ways that undermine their core responsibility to inform the public with accuracy, balance, and professionalism.
The NBC noted that some presenters have deviated from established standards by denying fair hearing to opposing views and failing to maintain neutrality during interviews.
It stressed that such actions breach the broadcasting code, which requires impartiality and balanced representation of issues of public interest.
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The regulatory body warned that any presenter found guilty of expressing personal opinions as facts, intimidating or bullying guests, or compromising neutrality would be classified under a Class B breach, which attracts sanctions.
The commission also raised concerns about the misuse of broadcast platforms by political actors to spread divisive, inflammatory, and unverified content. It emphasized that media organizations remain fully responsible for all content aired, including live broadcasts, and cannot shift accountability to guests.
Reaffirming its commitment to enforcing compliance, the NBC stated that violations involving hate speech, incitement, and imbalance would be met with strict penalties.
The directive comes amid increasing scrutiny of media practices in Nigeria, particularly in politically sensitive discussions, as the commission moves to uphold professional broadcasting standards.
