Obi slams NBC’s new media advisory

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over what he described as growing threats to press freedom in Nigeria, warning that the country is “drifting dangerously” amid recent regulatory actions involving broadcast media.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi described recent developments around broadcast regulation as “very troubling,” linking his concern to a recent notice by the National Broadcasting Commission ahead of the general elections.

“Yesterday’s advocates of democracy, today’s oppressor of the press… Nigeria is drifting dangerously,” he wrote, adding that “a free and responsible media should not be an enemy to any administration, especially one that claims to have fought for democracy.”

Obi stressed that the media remains central to accountability, saying the media is the conscience of the nation, while warning that attempts to regulate or intimidate journalists under any guise would only weaken democracy.

“Attempting to stifle voices, moderate opinions, or intimidate journalists under the guise of regulation only weakens our already fragile democracy. Institutions are not built to serve governments; they are built to serve the people,” he said.

His comments come against the backdrop of a recent NBC advisory warning broadcast stations over what it described as rising professional and ethical breaches among presenters, including the expression of personal opinions as fact and failure to ensure balanced reporting.

The commission had also warned that violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code would attract sanctions as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for fairness, neutrality and professionalism in broadcast content. Reacting to broader national challenges, Obi said attention should be focused on governance issues such as insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence rather than media restrictions.

“At a time when insecurity is on the rise, young Nigerians are losing faith in the country, and the economy continues to fail the average citizen, our focus should not be on controlling media narratives, but on delivering results,” he said.