The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has cautioned broadcast stations who do newspaper reviews to desist from giving details of security challenges and naming victims of insecurity.
In a letter addressed to broadcast stations dated July 7, signed by the director, Broadcast Monitoring, Mrs Francisca Aiyetan, and obtained by Tribune Online on Friday in Abuja, NBC also urged broadcast stations to advise guests and analysts on their programmes not to polarise the citizenry with divisive rhetoric, in driving home their point.
NBC said too much detail on national security may have adverse implications on the nation.
The commission, therefore, urged broadcasters to collaborate with the federal government in dealing with the security challenges by not glamorising the nefarious activities of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.
The letter aid while informing Nigerians on security issues said its necessary, there was a need for caution as too much detail may have adverse implications on the efforts of the security officials who are duty-bound to deal with the insurgency.
The letter reads in part: “The National Broadcasting Commission wishes to draw attention to critical issues arising from Review of Newspapers by Broadcast Stations daily.
“Headlines of most Newspapers on daily basis are replete with security topics.
“Some of the topics also have ethnological coating thereby, pitching one section of the country against the other and leaving Nigerians in daily hysteria.”
The commission also reminded broadcast stations to be guided by the provisions of Sections 5.4.1(f) and 5.4.3 of the NB Code, which states: “The broadcaster shall not transmit divisive materials that may threaten or compromise the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a sovereign state.
“In reporting conflict situations, the broadcaster shall perform the role of a peace agent by adhering to the principle of responsibility, accuracy, and neutrality.”
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