SERAP Asks Tinubu To Reverse NBC Directive, Threatens Legal Action

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Broadcasting Commission to withdraw its recent directive to broadcast stations, describing it as unlawful and repressive.

The organisation warned that it would take legal action if the Federal Government fails to act within 48 hours.

In a letter dated April 18, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP criticised the NBC directive as an attempt to stifle press freedom.

The group said the directive “represents a dangerous attempt to impose prior censorship on the media and suppress legitimate journalistic expression”.

It urged the President to ensure that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, alongside the NBC, immediately withdraw the “formal notice”.

SERAP specifically asked the government to halt what it described as threats of sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters based on unclear provisions.

It called on authorities to “immediately withdraw the unlawful ‘formal notice’ which threatens sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters on vague and unjustified grounds”.

The organisation also demanded that the government refrain from imposing prior censorship on journalists and media organisations.