The National Broadcasting Commission has directed all broadcast stations in Nigeria to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba on Monday in Abuja, the regulatory agency noted that it would be unpatriotic for any broadcaster in Nigeria to continue to patronise the suspended Twitter as a source of its information.
Citing section 2 (1) of the NBC Act which he said, entrusted the Commission with responsibility to ensure strict adherence to the national laws, rules and regulations, Idachaba directed broadcasting stations across the country to de-install Twitter handles.
“Consequent on the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria,
“Therefore, strict compliance is enjoined and in Compliance to the above directive, Broadcasting Stations are hereby advised to de- install twitter handles. They are to desist from using twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for News and programmes Presentation especially Phone-in.
“Also, section 3.11.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code provides that the broadcaster shall ensure that law enforcement is upheld at all times in a matter depicting that law and order are socially superior to or more desirable than Crime and Anarchy.
“Attention is also drawn to section 5.6.3 of the code which requires broadcasters to be mindful of materials that may cause disaffection, incite to panic or rift in the society in the use of a user generated Content (UGC),” the statement read in part.
Recall that on June 4, the Federal Government suspended, indefinitely, the operations of Twitter, the microblogging and social networking service, in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government has also directed the NBC to immediately begin the process of licensing all Over-The-Top (OTT) and social media operations in Nigeria,” Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said in a statement signed by his spokesperson, the statement read.
Segun Adeyemi.
