Press Release

4 August 2022 – The Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom condemns the act by the National Broadcasting Commission for imposing a Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) sanction

on Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV, TelCom Satellite Limited (TSTV); NTA- Startimes Limited; Trust TV for broadcasting the documentary by the BBC AFRICA EYE titled, “Bandits Warlords Of Zamfara”, ” Banditary- The Insider Story” which glorified the activities of Bandits and undermines National Security in Nigeria.

The CWPPF regards the fine slammed on these broadcast services as a baseless and authoritarian move to stifle the press. In many cases, threats of violence and attacks against journalists are not adequately investigated, yet NBC thinks this fine is the best way to constrain the Nigerian media from carrying out its mandate.

This continuous impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes and simultaneously has an undesirable discouraging effect and obstructs journalists and their work. However, Nigerian journalists have remained dogged in exposing corruption, irregularity and security that has affected millions of Nigerians. This kind of unwarranted sanctions against journalists impedes the free flow of information.

CWPPF, therefore, condemns these sanctions entirely and calls on the National Broadcasting Commission to withdraw them without delay. We shall continue to oppose all forms of attacks on human rights and press freedom in Nigeria and across the world and hold the government, individuals and organizations accountable.

We shall continue to take the necessary measures to prevent violence against journalists and media workers and we will also fiercely demand accountability and bring perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers to justice.

CWPPF Secretariat

The Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF)is a group of media and civil society organisations committed to upholding democracy and good governance by protecting the ethos of whistleblowing, freedom of expression and press freedom.

CWPPF members

Premium Times

HEDA Resources Centre

The Cable

Daily Trust Newspaper

Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism

Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)

African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)

Civic Media Lab

Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)

International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)

International Press Centre (IPC)

International Press Institute, Nigeria

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

Paradigm Initiative

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative