Due to the suspension of Twitter by the Presidency, a letter from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has begun circulating, directing all [traditional] broadcast stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately, but the commission’s website is missing the information.
The statement titled ‘Suspend Twitter Handles’ read in part; “Broadcasting stations are hereby advised to de-install Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a (UGC) source of information gathering for news and programmes presentation especially phone-in.”
NBC described the microblogging app as a promoter of activities capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria. Quoting Section 5.6.3 of the NBC code, the commission requires that broadcasters be “mindful of materials that may cause disaffection, incite to panic or rift in the society in the use of user-generated content (UGC).”
NBC concluded its statement saying that it will be unpatriotic for any broadcaster to continue to patronise the suspended Twitter as a source of information therefore strict compliance is enjoined.
Confusion has however risen over the action the NBC in fact wants broadcast stations to take; “de-install” the Twitter app, delete their official twitter handles or simply not reference tweets from Twitter users in their content as sources?
While broadcast stations struggle to come to terms with the practicality of this order, the official NBC website has not published a new press release since November 2020, and the agency as well as the ministeries of information and communication are yet to update the order on their respective websites.