SERAP Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Tinubu Over NBC Sanctions

​ABEOKUTA — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate withdrawal of a “repressive” directive by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) targeting broadcast stations and presenters.

​In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the rights group described the NBC’s recent formal notice as an “unlawful” attempt to gag the media through prior censorship. The NBC had, on April 17, 2026, threatened broadcast houses with “Class B” sanctions for alleged breaches including the expression of personal opinions by anchors and a failure to maintain strict neutrality.

​’A Dangerous Precedent’

​SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, argued that the commission’s reliance on vague sections of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code undermines the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

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​”The NBC’s notice represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression,” the letter read. “Value judgments and journalistic opinions are protected expressions under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law.”

​The organization highlighted that Section 1.10.3 of the Code, which prohibits presenters from expressing personal opinions, is a form of “compelled speech” that stifles democratic discourse, especially as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.

​Demands for Reform

​SERAP urged President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, to:

• ​Withdraw the Notice: Immediately cancel the directive threatening sanctions against broadcasters.
• ​Amend the Code: Reform the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to align with international human rights obligations and the 1999 Constitution.
• ​Protect Editorial Independence: Ensure that regulatory oversight does not transform into a regime of indirect censorship.

​Impending Legal Action

​The advocacy group warned that failure to comply within two days would result in a lawsuit. “If we have not heard from your government and the NBC within 48 hours, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest,” the statement concluded.

​The ultimatum comes amid growing concerns from the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) regarding the safety of media practitioners and the increasing use of administrative fines to cripple independent broadcasting.